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DR. HENRY W. SAUL 
President Kutztown Centennial Association 



THE 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY 
OF KUTZTOWN 



PENNSYLVANIA 



CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE INCORPORATION 
OF THE BOROUGH- 1815-1915 



COMPILED BY THE HISTORICAL COMMITTEE OF THE KUTZTOWN CENTENNIAL 

ASSOCIATION 

W. W- DEATRICK, A. M., Sc. D., Chairman 



1915 

PRESS OF THE KUTZTOWN PUBLISHING COMPANY 

KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 






COPYRIGHT 1915 

BY 

THE KUTZTOWN PUBLISHING COMPANY 



©CI,A4ai736 
JUL 2 1915 



FOREWORD 



^l/TUTZTOWN BOROUGH was one 
llli hundred years old in March of the 
fiS^ present year. The town is about 
half a century older. Soon after the 
laying out, in 1755, of "The Great Road," 
— the Easton Road it has long been called 
— a straggling hamlet, a hotel or two and 
some other buildings, sprang up at the 
crossing of the Saucony. In 1779 the town 
was formally laid out. From that time to 
this there has been growth, rapid at times, 
slow, almost at a standstill, at other times, 
but ever continuous. 

This century, or century and a half, of 
existence of the town has been marked by 
events, quite as numerous and quite as 
noteworthy as those that have happened in 
most towns of the size in such a period. 
That these happenings might not be for- 
gotten ; that some already well-nigh forgot- 
ten incidents might be preserved to the 
generation coming after us; that the Cen- 
tennial of Kutztown might be marked by 
more than the passing shows of the week 
of celebration that begins July i, this yeai 
of grace ; that all who read may know what 
of interest, great or little, has happened in 
our town; that the world may learn how 
Kutztown has grown and what a little city 
it is today, this Centennial History oe 
Kutztown has been prepared. 

The Historical Committee, charged by 
the Kutztown Centennial Association with 
the preparation of this volume, have found, 
in the course of their researches, that the 
history of the town is much fuller and much 
more stirring and interesting than even 
those who knew most about the matter had 
any notion. Readers of this volume will 
find some stories not told in print before. 
They will find here, committed to the art 
preservative, tales which they heard in 
childhood days and which they have nearly 
or quite forgotten. Such ones will be 
thankful, we are sure, that this work has) 
been undertaken. Historians may find here, 
as in local histories often, some contribu- 
tion to the larger history of county, state, 
or nation. 

The book is not all history. A consider- 
able portion of the volume is devoted to a 
telling to the world at large of what may 
be seen if folks come to Kutztown ; to a not 
exaggerated setting forth of the industries, 
businesses, and social institutions of the 
place ; as well as to some account of people 
now or once resident in the town. This 



feature will, doubtless, be of interest. More 
than this, however, — these records of the 
present time will, certainly, by and by, prove 
as interesting and valuable to the future 
writer of a fuller, better history as the 
pamphlet of Professor Ermentrout, issued 
in 1876, was to the compilers of this book. 
Readers will, certainly, discover errors in 
this publication. But for these indulgence 
is craved. No one is more conscious than 
the editor, chairman of the committee, of 
the shortcomings of the volume. That 
omissions, mis-statements, duplications, and 
even contradictions will be found is quite 
likely. Some misprints will occur. Critics 
may notice lack of uniformity in style. 

Kind indulgence is, nevertheless, request- 
ed. It is proper, however, to say that not 
all that may be taken for error is really 
such. In the reprints of old documents the 
strange spelling and unusual phraseology 
are not the fault of the copyist or printer — 
at least not in many cases. An honest ef- 
fort has been made to follow the rule at 
present accepted by historians — to reprint 
such documents with all their peculiarities. 
For what is not explicable in this way the 
editor feels that this much of explanation is 
due to his colleagues and himself. Lack of 
uniformity, especially, in style, is the result 
of the book being the work of many hands. 
There was lack of time for desirable con- 
sultation between the co-workers, and edi- 
torial supervision has been far from what 
was desirable. As the material came in it 
became a physical impossibility to examine 
all of it even cursorily. 

The editor was hampered greatly in the 
work by the death of the Rev. J. J. Cress- 
man, on whom reliance was placed for re- 
searches and write-ups on certain portions 
of the work. 

Another reason for what some may con- 
sider worthy of criticism is that much to 
which time for consideration should have 
been given was brought to light only within 
the last few weeks, in which time there was 
great increase of interest in the forthcom- 
ing history. The amount of time and labor 
involved in ferreting out the truth of a rnat- 
ter when tradition conflicted with tradition, 
or when tradition was found to be at va- 
nance with discovered records, is known 
only to those who have had experience in 
such studies. 

Histories, if they are to be relatively free 
from errors such as have been mentioned. 



IV 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



cannot be written to order or completed by 
a time set in advance. At first there was 
difference of opinion as to the time when 
this history should appear. The chairman 
and some other members of the committee 
were of opinion that its publication should 
take place after the Centennial. The judg- 
ment of the majority was that it should be 
finished before the celebration. That judg-- 
ment has been accepted and the wonder is 
that so much has been accomplished and 
with so little of error, as is believed. The 
Centennial could not be postponed — the 
work had to be gotten ready before the 
opening of the celebration. 

The committee, especially the chairman, 
regrets exceedingly that there are imper- 
fections due to hurried preparation and 
lack of opportunity for full revision. It is 



as a body thankful that so much has been 
done so well, especially by those who have 
come to the assistance of the editor and 
committee. 

To his colleagues on the committee and 
to all who have helped in any way, the 
editor herewith returns his thanks. Of 
readers and critics he begs kind indulgence. 
Concluding, he invites criticism. Notifica- 
tion of errors which may be discovered 
will be thankfully received. In this way 
the publication at some future time of a 
fuller, more accurate history than the pres- 
ent one may be made possible. 

W. W. De.'VTrick, Editor 
Chairman of Historical Committee 

Kutztown, Pa. 
June 23, 1915 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Foreword iii 

Contents v 

The Kutztown Centennial Association, Its 

Inception and History vii 

Officers of the Association viii 

Dr. and Mrs. Albert J. Kutz ix 

Dr. N. C. Schaefifer xi 

H. R. Nicks X 

Chief Burgess, Dr. N. Z. Dunkelberger xii 

The Town Council xiii 

The School Directors xiv 

Dr. H. W. Saul, President of the Centennial 

Association xv 

Maxatawny 1-26, 37-39 

East Penn Valley i 

Saucony 1-8 

Geology and Soils 2-4 

Elevations 3 

Indians S-26 

Wentz Patent 14-1S 

Pleasant View Stock Farm 20 

Prominent Families 21—35 

Siegfried Family 2i 

Hottenstein Family 24 

Levan Family 26 

Schlatter and Zinzendorf 26-27 

Mills 26 

Organ 29 

Wink Family 30 

Schaeffer Family 31 

Bieber Family 31 

Sharadin Family 31 

Geehr Family 33 

Fister Family 33 

Kemp Family : . . . . 34 

Deysher Family 34 _ 

Zimmerman Family 34 

Dietrich Family 34 

Kutz Family 35 

Grim Family 35 

Development of the Township 37^39 

Settlement ZJ 

Erection 38 

Taxables (1759) 3b 

Early Roads 39 

The Great or Easton Road 39-Si 

Indian Trail and Early Road 39 

Laying out of Easton Road 40 

Schultz's Map 40 

Kemp's Hotel 41 

Early Travelers 42-47 

Capt. Nagle's Troops 43 

Swan Inn 44-4S 

Continental Congress, Flight of 45 

Centennial Oak 2, 45-46 



PAGE 

Lady Washington 47 

Modes of Travel 47-51 

"Pitt-Fuehren" 48 

Stage Coaches 48 

Railroads 50 

Hotels .' 52-56 

Full Moon 52-54 

Emaus— Bunker Hill— General Jackson .. 52-53 

Pennsylvania House 53 

Washington House 55 

Black Horse Hotel 55 

American House 56 

Keystone House 56 

Charles Levan's 5(3 

Noted Visitors 57 

Penn County, with Kutztown as County Seat. 58 

Laying out of Kutztown 60 

Kutztown in the War of 1812 62 

Kutztown a Borough 64 

The First House 65 

Borough Incorporated 66 

List of Burgesses 66 

The First Minutes of Council 67 

Regulations by Council 67 

First Assessment Roll 68 

191S Assessment 69 

Church History 76-91 

Maxatawny Reformed congregation ^d 

Maxatawny Lutheran congregation 80 

Union Church 80-87 

Church Regulations 80 

School Regulations 83 

New Building 85 

Sunday Schools 85 

Trinity Lutheran Church 87 

St. Paul's Reformed Church 89 

Grace United Evangelical Church 90 

Educational History 91-101 

Early Interest in Education 91 

Earliest Teachers 91 

The Redemptioner School Master 92 

St. John's Parochial School 93 

The Public Schools 94 

Private Schools 96-101 

Mason's "Pay School" 96 

Franklin Academy 98 

Fairview Seminary 99 

Kutztown Academy 99 

Maxatawny Seminary 100 

Keystone State Normal School 102-116 

The Cemeteries 117 

Post Office 118 

Newspapers 120-129 

Industries 130-137 



VI 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



PAGE 

Improvements 139-140 

Park, Auditorium, Water Company, Trolley 

Lines 139 

Streets 140 

Civic Organizations 140-142 

Board of Trade 140 

Board of Health 141 

Musical Organizations 142 

Fire Companies 143 

Medical Practitioners 145-147 

The Legal Profession 148 

Fairs and Battalions 149 

Some Military Notes 152 

Fraternal Organizations 154-156 

Dramatic Clubs 157-161 

The Centennial Celebration 161-163 

The Slogan 163 

Roll of Honor 163 



PAGE 

Odds and Ends of History 164-166 

Some Early History 164 

Fell Dead at a Battalion 164 

Early Stone Masons 164 

Story of a Bake Shop 164 

Sports in Olden Days 165 

Kutztown as a Show Town 165 

Early Counterfeiters i6.s 

An Old Well 166 

Fire-Making in Olden Times 166 

A Maxatawny Slave 166 

Governor E. T. Miller 166 

An Incident of the Revolution 166 

Spanish-American War Volunteers 166 

Centennial Committees 167—171 

Biographical and Industrial Department. .171-239 
Annals of Kutztown 240-24? 



THE KUTZTOWN CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION— ITS INCEPTION 

AND HISTORY 



On March 4, 1909, the Kutztown Town 
Council held its annual reorganization, at 
which time Dr. H. W. Saul delivered his 
inaugural address as burgess. He referred 
to 191 5 as being the time when Kutztown 
would be one hundred years old as an in- 
corporated borough and suggested that 
preparations should be commenced to raise 
money fittingly to celebrate the occasion. 

After thanking Council for confidence re- 
posed in him and making some other re- 
marks, the newely elected Burgess said: 

"At the present time I have nothing to 
offer other than to give out one suggestion, 
or rather a train of thoughts that came to 
me like an inspiration, while making one of 
my drives in the country. It is this : In 
191 5 this borough will be one hundred years 
old. It behooves us, as American citizens, 
yea, as citizens of the Borough of Kutztown, 
befittingly to commemorate and celebrate 
this all important centennial event. To do 
this in a proper way requires time, energy, 
and money. Money is the least, for it is the 
easiest to command. How will you do it? 
Draw up a list, call it the 'Roll of Honor,' 
and get on this roll the names of all the 
sons and all the daughters who were ever 
born within the border limits of the Bor- 
ough of Kutztown, and who are still among 
the living, even though they are spread 
'over the broad expanse of the entire United 
States, or reside in other climes or dwell 
in the remotest corners of the universe. 
Get at least 500 on this roll and have each 
of them pay but one dollar a year. In one 
year you will have $500 and in six years 
you will have $3000. But this is not 
enough. How will you get more? Ever}' 
industry, every business man, and every ho- 
tel-keeper in the borough is willing to sub- 
scribe at least $25. The Keystone State 
Normal School on the top of the hill will 
be only too glad to help the cause along 
with at least $200. Let the public school 
children enter into the patriotism and once 
a year contribute their pennies, nickels or 
dimes, and in this way raise another hun- 
dred dollars during the course of the six 
years. Let the Borough Council donate 
several hundred dollars. In all this time 
the money, as it comes in, will be deposited 
in our local bank and earn three per cent 
interest per annum. Then the sum will be 
approximately $6000 or $7000, with which 
you can begin to celebrate this great event. 



■i~o make the event all the more complete, 
we want all the sons and all the daugnters 
wno may have been absent five, ten, hlteen, 
twenty, thirty, or more years to come 
nome to their own native town and have a 
grand, gala time in the old home during 
rnat summer week of 1915. Gentlemen, we 
are so situated and we nave the facilities 
to make this a complete success if we only 
start in time. Let us make it our aim to 
excel, eclipse, and place in the shade, if 
such a thing is possible, that grand and spec- 
tacular celebration which was held some 
years ago in the city of Reading. Then, if 
we fall short in attaining such a high stand- 
ard, our efforts will at least be laudable." 

A special meeting of Council was held on 
March 12, 1909, to consider the suggestion. 
A number of citizens were present. Presi- 
dent of Council, L. A. Stein, stated the ob- 
ject of the meeting to be the advisability of 
a permanent organization for the purpose 
of celebrating the centennial year, 191 5. A 
financial committee was created for the pur- 
pose of raising money to defray the neces- 
sary expenses of a Centennial Celebration. 
This committee consisted of the Burgess, 
the members of the Town Council, and its 
secretary, the five active ministers of the 
Gospel of the churches of the Borough, the 
publishers and editors of "The Patriot," 
and enough other citizens to swell the com- 
mittee to twenty-five. At a subsequent 
meeting the committee was increased to 
fifty members. These persons pledged 
themselves to pay each no less than seven 
dollars for the purpose named. A Roll of 
Honor was created, with an appropriate 
heading, to be signed by the contributors. 

Dr. H. W. Saul, Burgess, was then unani- 
mously elected president, A. S. Heffner 
secretary, Arthur Bonner treasurer, Rev. 
iR. B. Lynch, V. H. Hauser, and A. S. Christ 
trustees. William B. Schaeffer, E. P. De- 
Turk, and Walter S. Dietrich were elected 
auditors. Later, because of increasing in- 
terest and consequent augmentation of 
necessary correspondence, Herman A. Fis- 
ter, cashier of the Farmers Bank, was elect- 
ed corresponding secretary, all to serve one 
year. All the officers were re-elected from 
year to year up to the time of the celebra- 
tion. 

On April 26. 1909, a letter from Dr. Al- 
bert J. Kutz, of Northampton, England, of- 
fering a donation of $100.00 to the centen- 



Vlll 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVN 



nial fund was received. This offer was 
made good on May 4, 191 5, by a draft from 
a London Bank for $100.29. At the meet- 
ing of the association on Alay 27 a rising 
vote of thanks was extended to Doctor 
Kutz. , 

Ahhough Kutztown was incorporated 
March ist, 1815, it was not deemed wise to 
celebrate the centennial in March last on ac- 
count of the conditions of the weather at 
that season, and so the Kutztown Centen- 
nial Association on November 18, 1913. de- 




A. S. Heffnfr 
Secretary of the Association 

termined that the celebration should be held 
from July I to 7, inclusive. 

The Kutztown Centennial Association has 
been kept alive by quarterly meetings that 
were held from the time of its origin to Sep- 
tember, 1914, when the meetings were 
monthly until March 18, 191 5. Then semi- 
monthly and finally, through May and June, 
weekly and daily meetings have been held. 

The success of the Centennial Celebra- 
tion is not dependent on financial condi- 
tions only, but on the untiring efforts of the 



various committees, who have spent much 
time and labor in making out interesting 
programs for each day. 

As this volume goes to press, final 
preparations, of an elaborate sort and on a 
scale satisfying the most enthusiastic ad- 
vocates of tht Centennial, are being made 
for the greatest celebration ever held in 
Kutztown. It is regretted that it is im- 
possible here to give the progress of the 
Centennial Week Observance in detail day 
by day. In general these are as follows :'^ 

Thursday, July i. Educational Day 
Friday, July 2, Agricultural and Industrial 

Day 
Saturday, July 3, Firemen's Day 
Sunday, July 4, Church Day 
Monday, July 5, Fraternity Day 
Tuesday, July 6, Reading and Allentown 

Day 
Wednesday, July 7 Historical Day 

For the committees in charge of these 
exercises see pp. 168-171. 

On Fducational Day and on Historical 
Day pageants will be presented in the Kutz- 
town Park. 

For the arranging and directing of these 
pageants the community is deeply indebted 
to Miss Lillian Bull, a member of the 
faculty of the Keystone State Normal 
School. 

The Celebration of Centennial Week will 
be begun by appropriate exercises held on 
Thursday forenoon, July i, in the Chapel 
of the Keystone State Normal School, the 
present Burgess of Kutztown, Dr. N. Z. 
Dunkelberger, presiding. 



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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




H. R. NICKS 
Founder of the Keystone State Normal School 




MICHAEL SCHLATTER 




DR. N. C. SCHAEFFER 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction 



was born Feb. 3. 1S49, in Maxatawny township. Berks 
county, educated in Maxatawny Seminary (now Kev- 
stone State Normal School). Franklin and Marshall 
College. Lancaster : Theological Seminary. Mercers- 
burs:, and in the Universities of Berlin. Tubingen and 
Ijeipsic. He taught in Mercersburg Tollege and Frank- 
lin and Marshall College ; was for sixteen years princi- 
pal of the Keystone State Normal School ; was elected 
president of the National Educational Association at 
Asbury Park, N. .T.. in 1905 : served as president of 
the Pennsylvania State Teachers' Association, secre- 
tary of the National Council of Education, president 
of the Department of Superintendence of the National 
Association, president of the Pennsylvania German 
Society ; Chancellor of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua 
at Mt. Gretna from 1901 to 1905 ; as a member of 



the Penns.vlvania Commission on Industrial Educa 
tion. as editor of the Pennsylvania School Journal 
since 1893, and is editor of a volume of Bible Read- 
ings for schools ; author of "Thinking and Learnln,i; 
to Think" (Vol. 1. of Lippincott's Educational Series, 
edited by Dr. M. G. Brumbaugh), and of a history of 
Education in Pennsylvania, contained in the three 
volume History of the State, published by the Mason 
Publishing Companv. Syracuse. N. Y. ; was commis- 
sioned Superintendent of Public Instruction. June 1, 
1893. and re-commissioned in 1897. 1901, 1905. 1909 
and 1913. Served as lecturer on Pedagogy in the 
Graduate Department of the University of Pennsyl- 
vania during the absence of Dr. Brumbaush as Com- 
miissioner of Education in Porto Rico (1900-1901.) 



Xll 



CENTENMAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



BOROUGH COUNCIL, 1915 




B. D. DRUCKBNMIHER V. H. HAUSER GEORGE W. RAMER HORACE SCHMEHL 




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B. M. DEIBERT 



FRED. A. MOVER OSCAR O. SELL G. W. BIEBER, SEC. 



KUTZTOWN SCHOOL BOARD, 1915 






GEO. GLASSER, PRES. 



GEO. C. BORDNER, SEC. 



GEO. A. SCHI<E1SKER 





DR. H. W. SAXJL 



H. A. FISTER 




DR. N. Z. DUNKELBERGER 



Chief Burgess of 

Kutztowu, Fa., sou of John L. aud Mary f Zimmer- 
man) Dunkelber.Pier, was born in Bethel township, 
Berks county. Pa.. August 16. 1864. The great- 
grandfather of our subject was Abraham Dunkelherg- 
er, born in Center township. John Dunkelbergei, 
the grandfather was horn in Bern township. John 
L. Dunkelberger, the father of our subject, was born 
in Upper Bern township, and is now a resident of 
Reading. Dr. Dunkelberger, after completing the 
course prescribed in the common schools of Center 
township, took advanced studies under a private 
tutor. He passed a creditable teachers' examination 
and taught two years, when he entered the employ 
of Kline and Pautsch. general merchants of Center- 
port for six months, and then went back to teaching. 
He taught in the schools of this county six years. He 
read medicine in the office of Dr. A. A. Stamm, of 
Centerport. after which he took a course of one year 
in the University of Vermont, and still later a two 
year cour&e in' the Medico-Chirurgical College of 
Philadelphia, fromi which he was graduated April 10. 
ISQO. In addition to the ordinary course, he took 
a special course in diseases of the eye, ear. nose and 
throat and diseases of women. Upon examination he 
received a prize of $50 for having the highest mark in 



Kutztown, 1914-1918 

the class, and a special diploma in surgery. In 1890 
he passed the examination before the State Board of 
Examiners, and received an appointment to the stafl 
of physicians in the Philadelphia Hospital, but declined 
and located at Kutztown. He has since demonstrated 
his skill as a physician and acquired a good and 
large practice. Dr. Dunkelberger was married to 
Anna Laura Dunkle, a daughter of Solomon G. and 
Sarah Dunkle, of Ontelaunee. They are the parents 
of May Bright, wife of Robert Sell, 24; LeRoy, 22; 
Anna Laila, 18; George A., 11, and Anna Laura, 7. 
They are memlb'ers of the Lutheran Church. He has 
been connected with the Readins,' Eagle, as correspon- 
dent and agent, for 35 years. He has been a mem- 
ber of the School Board 22 years, serving as sec- 
retary of the board IS years, and president one year ■ 
first Chief Burgess of greater Kutsrtown. 1914-1918 : 
member of Berks County Medical Society, Lehigh Val- 
ley Medical Association and the State Association ; 
member of K. G. E.. No. 70. Kutztown ; of Jr. O. U. 
A. M.. Kutztown ; of Royal Arcanum. Kutztown ; of 
F. O. K.. No. 839, Kutztown. Dr. Dunkelberger is 
also a member of the Kutztown Motor Car Company 
and director of the Farmers Bank. 




DR. HENRY W. SAUL 
President of the Kutztown Centennial Association 



of Kutztowu. .youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. David Saul, 
both deceased, was born in Kutztown, April 29. 1869. 
He attended the public schools of Kutztown until the 
spring of 1886, when he entered the Keystone State 
Normal School, and graduated therefrom in June 
1889. Taught school for his master diploma, and in 
the spring terms of 1890 and 1891. at the Keystone 
State Normal School, studied the hicher branches in 
the post-graduate course, and prepared for collegb. 
He entered the Baltimore Medical Colle2;e, and gradu- 
ated from that institution in 1894 ; took another year 
of hospital and post-graduate work and on April 1, 
1895. he started the practice of medicine in his 
native town and has successfully practiced his pro- 
fession here ever since. He is a memter of the 
Berks County Medical Society, and the Medical Society 
of the State of Pennsylvania, and served as president 
of the former body durinsr the year 1912. Politically, 
he is a Democrat, and take& an active interest in 
municipal affairs; he served as borough auditor and 
town clerk and was Burg;ess of Kutztown for five 



years, from 1909 to 1914; at present he is a membei 
of the Board of Education of the Kutztown public 
schools, and for the past eleven years was deputy 
coroner for Kutztown and vicinity. He is president 
of the Kutztown Centennial Association, ever since its 
organization, six years ago and durin? his adminis- 
tration as burgess this organization was effected. He 
is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and 
served as a deacon for the congregation the nast eight 
years. Socially, he belongs to Huguenot Lodge, No. 
377. F. and A. M. ; Excelsior Royal Arch Chapter, 
No. 237 ; Reading Commandery, No. 42. Knights Temi- 
plar : Rajah Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S. : Adonai Castle, 
No. 70. Knights of the Golden Eagle ; Charles A. 
Gerasch Council. No. 1004. Jr. O. U. A. M. On August 
16, 1904, he was married to Katie E. Trexler, of 
Topton, and they are the parents of three children, 
one son and two daughters : Charles David, aged 
7 years : Helen Margaret, ar.ed 9, and Katharine 
Adele, 5. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



MAXATAWNY 



The histor)' of Kutztown is very closely 
bound up with that of Maxatawny town- 
ship within the limits of which the town 
was founded and from the territory of 
which the area included within the boun- 
daries of the borough, now one hundred 
years old, was carved. 

Maxaimvny is an Indian name. The 
name as now spelled is said by philological 
antiquarians to be a corruption of Machsit- 
hannc or Machksit-hanne. Its meaning is 
said to be "Bear's-Path creek" or stream. 
Originally the term must have been applied 
by the aborigines to the Saucony creek, the 
stream flowing; through our town, having 
its source in the mountain south of Topton 
and Bowers ("Topton Mountain") between 
Henningsville and Dryville. In the Indian 
language Saucony or Sakunk, as they pro- 
nounced it, meant a place of outlet, the 
place where a smaller stream enters into a 
larger one. The Saucony flows into the 
Ontelaunee or Maiden Creek, so that "Sau- 
con" was really the point of junction of 
the two streams at Virginville. At that 
place was a noted Indian village called, 
for the reasons given, "Sakunk." After 
the white men came, possibly because these 
did not understand the distinctions made 
by the Indians, the name Saucony was ap- 
plied to the stream formerly known as 
"Machksithanne" and the name Maxataw- 
ny came to be used as meaning the area 
of country drained by the waters of the 
stream. 

As applied to the country instead of to the 
stream Maxatawny for a long time meant 
the area drained by the Saucony and its 
tributary rivulets, and embraced, in general, 
the territory between Macungie (the dis- 
trict formerly known by that name), Onte- 
launee (the section lying farther west along 
the Maiden Creek) , and the Oley Hills (Top- 
ton Mountain and those parts of the South 
Mountain forming the watershed between 
the Manatawny and the Saucony creeks.) 
The earliest writers, speaking of Maxa- 
tawny as a political division, regarded it 
as including the entire territory drained by 
the Ontelaunee and its tributaries. In early 
writings it is sometimes called the "New 
section." 

When the white men came thev found 



the valley, now called the East Penn Valley, 
of which Maxatawny is a part, from the 
foot of the South Mountain (Topton moun- 
tain and Oley Hills) to the base of the op- 
posite, loftier range (Kittatinny^ Mountain, 
North Mountain or Blue Ridge), and from 
the Schuylkill river to the Lehigh (Lecha, 
it was called in early times), covered with 
a dense growth of low trees, "scrub oak," 
intersected by Indian trails connecting the 
Indian villages. Nowhere were there any 
considerable areas of tall timber. Here and 
there an oak or a small clump of scattered 
oaks of large dimensions rose above the 
general "bush." A few of the great trees 
were spared as the lower growth was 
cleared away. One of these, its lower 
branches cut away, yet stands by the side- 
walk in front of the Keystone State Normal 
School. A companion, less mutilated, 
stands on the campus near "West Cottage," 
formerly the home of John G. Wink but 
now occupied by Dr. James S. Grim, pro- 
fessor of biological sciences in the Normal 
School. But the most massive of these 
remnants and reminders of the earlv time 
is the great "Centennial Oak," standing in 
a field on the farm of Dr. U. S. G. Bieber, 
a short distance east of Kutztown. None 
of these trees, evidently, had close com- 
panions, since each is rounded in head, hav- 
ing now, or havinsT had, in earlier j'ears, 
low, spreading branches ; they do not have 
tall, slender trunks, without low growing 
and wide-spreading branches, as is the case 
with the lofty trees growing compactly in a 
forest. Tradition and written records unite 
to confirm this inference. Elderly resi- 
dents have told how that in youth they 
heard their elders tell that when the old 
Union Church (St. John's) was built of 
logs in 1791 there was no heavy timber in 
this locality. In consecaience of such lack 
the logs of which its walls were constructed 
were of pine, hauled with great labor and 
at considerable expense, except where the 
hauling was done gratuitously, from the 
pine forests bevond the Blue Mountains. 
As a matter of some interest in this con- 
nection it may be recorded here that Philin 
Schaefifer, the grandfather of Dr. Nathan 

i"Kittatinny" is a corruption of the Indian 
word "Kau-ta-tin-chunk," meaning "endless." 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



C. Schaeffer, long our townsman and now 
the eminent Superintendent of Public In- 
struction of the State of Pennsylvania, is 
said to have been one of the teamsters en- 
gaged in this arduous labor. Mr. John 
Deisher (deceased in 1912), father of Mr. 
Henry K. Deisher, related to his son how 
that when he, the father, was a little boy, 
abovtt 1834, he heard an old lady, "Mother 
Rhoad," then over seventy years of age, 
tell that when she was a girl (thus carry- 
ing the relation back to at least Revolu- 
tionary times) she went with her parents 
on a visit to relatives in Allentown and that 
then all the land through which they jour= 
neyed was covered with scrub-oak, while 
large trees were to be seen only here and 
there, far removed from one another. 



stand very close together ; the dry soil of 
these hills does not give any superfluous 
nourishment. And. this was confirmed by 
the accounts of the inhabitants who say 
they rarely find an oak more than six inches 
through. Hence they are obliged to fetch 
their fence-rails 4-6 miles, split chestnut 
rails being used for this purpose, the oak 
rotting faster, especially if the bark is left 
on." 

The physical geography and geology of 
the township has been studied and described 
variously from the time of these earliest 
recorded observations of Doctor Schoepf. 
This territory was included in the geologi- 
cal map (published 1858) of the First Geo- 
logical Survey of Pennsylvania, made by 
Prof. H. D. Rogers in the years 1836 to 





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The Centennial Oak 



In his "Travels in the Confederation" 
(published at Erlangen in 1788) descriptive 
of his journey through this valley in 1783, 
Dr. Johann David Schoepf, in narrating the 
incidents of his trip and recounting experi- 
ences and observations, tells a tale essential- 
ly the same. On pages 193-196 (English 
translation) one may read: 

"The road from here [Allentown to 
Reading] leads over the ridges of connect- 
ed hills which are counted a part of the 
afore-mentioned Dry Land. . . . America 
is indeed the land of the oak. All the for- 
ests are largely oak. but the trees are no- 
where either large or strong. What we 
have seen yesterday and to-day would be 
counted young wood, but this is hardly 
probable, because we observed no old 
stumps. Besides, the thin trunks do not 



1857. Dr. John P. Hiester published a 
"Geological ^lap of Berks County" in 1854. 
This was copied from the Rogers' survey. 
(A reproduction of this map appears op- 
posite p. 26 of Morton L. Montgomery's 
"History of Berks County," published in 
1886.) ' 

In 191 1 the United States Department of 
Agriculture, Bureau of Soils, cooperating 
with the Pennsylvania State College School 
of Agriculture and Experiment Station, is- 
sued a "Soil Survey of Berks County, Penn- 
sylvania," the result of field operations 
conducted by the Bureau of Soils in 1909. 

This survey was accompanied by a map 
showing the elevations, water courses, soils, 
roads, and the location of towns and rural 
dwellings. According to this publication, 
Maxatawnv and Kutztown lie "within that 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



physiographic division of the United States 
known as the Piedmont [foot of the moun- 
tains] plateau. . . . The soils . . . 
are all residual, having been derived direct- 
ly, through weathering and decomposition 
from the original rocks." The part of "the 
Great Valley," varying in width from 12 
to 18 miles "consists of two distinct divis= 
ions — one of limestone, the other of shale. 
The belt of limestone land extends across 
the township from southwest to northeast 
and averages three and one-half miles in 
breadth. In this limestone belt, within the 
limits of the township are two varieties of 
soil, known as "Hagerstown loam" and 
"Hagerstown stony loam." The former 
covers the larger part of the township; of 
the latter there is a small area in the south- 
ern corner of the township about Bowers 
and on the rising land beyond Lyons. 

The limestone ledges cropping out here 
and there are sources of wealth to their 
owners. All through this belt are quarries, 
some very extensive and worked for many 
years. These supply crushed stone for the 
furnaces and the roads, wagon, steam, and 
trolley. At most of the quarries are lime- 
kilns in which the stone is burned to lime 
for building purposes and for putting on 
the farmers' fields. In this belt, too, are 
many deposits of brown hematite iron ore, 
worked formerly more extensively than 
they are at present, as "most of the ore 
that occurred in workable quantities has 
been taken out." 

Across the northern oart of the town- 
ship runs the Hudson River shale, the ex- 
posed and undecomposed rocks of which 
exhibit, even within a distance of a few 
yards, varied colors : yellow, brown, blue, 
purple, drab, and Indian red, differences 
due, as has been suggested, to differences 
in hydration of the rock. Of the Hudson 
River shale there are two varieties : the 
Berks shale loam, occupying by far the 
larger part of the belt, and the Berks silt 
loam, found in the extreme western end 
of the township, a quite limited area, at 
the foot of the hills, a mile to a mile and a 
half directly west of Kutztown. 

In the extreme southern end of the town- 
ship, on the hills above Lyons, on each side 
of the road to Dryville, is a patch of Pots- 
dam sandstone, which, by weathering has 
formed a soil to which has been given the 
name of DeKalb stony loam. 

The surface of the township is gently 
rolling, particularly in the southern portion, 
considerably broken with steep and round- 
ed hills in the northern part. The eleva- 
tion above sea level varies from 390 feet 
at the point where the Saucony crosses the 



Greenwich township line to 840 feet on a 
hill north of Siegfried's Dale near the ex- 
treme northern corner of the township. The 
Saucony at the Main street bridge is 400 
feet above the sea level. In the brick work 
of a pilaster in the front wall of the Girls' 
Dormitory of the Keystone State Normal 
School, was set in 1908 a disk of metal, 
three feet five inches from the surface of 
the ground, bearing a bench mark with the 
subjoined inscription surrounding a point 
within a small triangle : 

U. S. GfiOIvOGICAI, SURVEY 

IN CO-OPiiRATlON WITH THE 

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 

EI^EVATION 

ABOVE /\ SEA 

5I4~FEET 
DATUM 1908 

This would make the surface of the Eas- 
ton Road in front of the residence of the 
late Col. T. D. Fister, approximately 515 
feet. 

The township, it may be added, is drained 
by the Saucony Creek and its tributaries, 
the principal of which is Mill Creek, which 
having its sources in Lehigh County and 
in the eastern corner of Greenwich Town- 
ship, enters Maxatawny Township at its 
northern corner and flows with a curve to 
the south and west through Mill Creek 
Valley, past Eagle Point, into Greenwich 
Township, where mingling its waters at 
Liscum, with those of a brook from the 
north, it turns south and joins the Saucony 
below the "second dam." In the extreme 
eastern corner of the township is a water 
shed from which gather the head waters 
of Kline's Run, a creek, to flow across the 
border into Lehigh County. 

Within the last few years the State of 
Pennsylvania has been conducting investi- 
gations into the "chestnut blight," a dis- 
ease destructive of chestnut trees. In course 
of the studies made in connection with 
these investigations the question arose as 
to the relation between soils and the sus- 
ceutibility of the trees to the blight or the 
immunity from it variously manifested in 
different localities. This led to other stud- 
ies, of soils and rocks, the results of which 
have considerably modified the conclusions 
p.rrived at by the earlier geolo2;ists. Dr. 
F. P. Gulliver, formerly connected with 
the Chestnut Blight Commission, has been 
carrying on these studies wit-h accuracy and 
persistence. As these studies embody the 
very latest discoveries, it is with pleasure 
that the compilers of this history insert 
at this place the following interesting and 
valuable contribution from his pen : 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



GEOLOGY 



Kutztown and vicinity is one of the 
Garden Spots of the World. There are 
few places where it is as easy to live so 
comfortably and well or where the mass of 
the population is so happy and so content= 
ed with the lot to which God has called 
them. Recentl}' it has been shown that 
there is limestone of three Geologic ages 
in the Kutztown valley : The Cambro- 
Ordovicion limestone on the southeast side 
of the valley, seen at Topton, Fleetwood, 
etc. ; the Lower Silurian limestone, found 
in the central portions of the valley ; and the 
Upper Silurian limestone, underlying Kutz- 
town. 

The northern rim of the Kutztown val- 
ley is formed by the Hudson River shales 



Cambrian quartzite. In some places there 
still remain the old shoreline beach deposits 
which may be shoveled up and carted away 
for use as sand. Such deposits are now 
found at Fleetwood, Temple, and on A-It. 
Peon. In other places the beaches are 
changed into sandstone. 

In the majority of places however the 
sand has been changed into quartzite by 
the action of water, heat, and pressure. 

A special form of this quartzite is found 
at the old Indian quarry just above Bowers 
station. Here alkaline waters coming up 
from below have changed the quartzite in- 
to Jasper with many other varieties of 
quartz. (See account of H. K. Deisher, 
page 8.) It is an interesting fact that about 




The Kramer Farm, in Greenwich Township 



which overlies the three limestones. These 
shales with some sandy layers do not weath- 
er as fast as the limestone and therefore 
rise to several hundred feet above the level 
of the valley floor. Everywhere beneath 
the shales will be found the limestones. In 
some places as at the Crystal Cave and 
Umbrella Hill the limestone has been arch- 
ed up and is found well up the steep slopes 
of the shale hills. In all the bottoms of 
the streams the limestone is only a short 
distance below the surface if it does not 
show in the bed of the stream itself. 

South of the belt of three limestones 
which forms Kutztown \^alley one finds an 
old shoreline, whose sand beaches are now 
mainly converted into quartzite, called the 



a mile from the center of this old quarry 
the chestnut trees are healthy and seem to 
resist the action of the blight fungus. On 
the Cambrian quartzite in general all the 
chestnut trees are either dead or rapidly 
dying from the blight. 

To the southeast of this Cambrian quartz- 
ite there is an area of very old rocks, part- 
ly formed from sediments laid down in 
water and in part formed from rocks due 
to volcanic action. The soils from these 
rocks dififer widely and it is a great mis- 
take to group them together as has been 
done in the soil survey of Berks county 
where differing soils are grouped together 
as Dekalb loam and stoney loam. 

F. P. Gulliver 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



INDIAN HISTORY 



THE ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS 



They waste us ; a}', like the April snow 
In the warm noon we shrink awajs 

And fast they follow as we go 
Torward the setting day; 

Till they shall fill the land, as we 
Are driven into the western sea. 

— Bryant 

Very little is known about the Indians 
of this immediate vicinity. The mute stone 
implements of family life, agriculture, 
chase, and war are, however, evidence that 
this section at some time was thickly in- 
habited by aboriginal Indians. 

As the Indians moved beyond the Blue 
Mountains prior to the settlement of white 
people in this fair valley, though there 
may have been squatters here and there, 
yet they left no record. A condensed gen- 
eral history of the tribe once the inhabit- 




ants of this place may, nevertheless, be of 
interest to the reader. 

The Indians living here at the time of 
discovery and until their removal to the 
West were the Leni Lenape, meaning, "real 
men" or "true men," commonly called Dela- 
ware Indians. According to the "Hand- 
book of American Indians," they were a 
confederacy of three clans and were fore- 
most of the Algonquin tribes, occupying 
Eastern Pennsylvania, Southeastern New 
York, and all of New Jersey and Dela- 
ware. 

In remote times they were recognized 
as "Grand Father," by neighboring tribes, 
until 1720 when the Iroquois or Six Na- 
tions, through trickery assumed dominion 
over them ; made "women" of thern as 
they called it, forbidding them to make 
war or sell land. 

According to Morgan they were com- 
posed of three principal tribes, called Un- 



amis or turtle, Unalachtigo or turkey, and 
Munsee, or Minsi, the wolf. According to 
Rrinton they were named by their totemic 
emblems and geographic division, Took- 
seat (round paw wolf), which had twelve 
sub=tribes ; Poke Hooungo, ( crawling tur- 
tle,) with ten sub-tribes; and PuUaook, 
(non-chewing turkey,) with twelve sub- 
tribes. Rutenber states that the Gachwech- 




nagechgo or lyehigh Indians were probably 
of the Unami tribe and it may be inferred 
that they lived along the Delaware river 
from the "forks," (Lehigh and Delaware 
rivers, at Easton,) south beyond Philadel- 
phia. The Wolf tribe is attributed to the 
head waters of the Delaware and south as 
far as the Lehigh river, but this author 
does not state how far west. It is fair, 
however, to assume that the Wolf tribe 
inhabited this vicinity and west beyond the 
Schuylkill river. 

According to Morgan the names of the 
sub-tribes of the Wolf clan were as fol- 
lows : Maansreet, big feet ; Weesowhetko, 




yellow tree ; Pasakunamon, pulling corn ; 
Weyarnihkato, cave enterer ; Tooshwarka- 
ma, across the river ; Olumane, vermillion ; 
Punarvon, dog standing by fireside ; Kwine- 
ekch^, long body ; Moonhartarne, digging ; 
Xcnharmin, pulling up stream ; Long'hus- 
hirkartto, brush dog; and Mawsootoh, 
bringinp- along. The reader may guess 
which of these occupied our town site along 
the Saucony Creek. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Saucony means outlet, as the outlet of a 
stream and ma\' have been named at Virgin- 
ville, where the Saucony flows into the On- 
telaunee. 

Maxatawny, according to Heckewelder, 
signifies bear's path stream, and this name 
was probably aop'ied to what is now called 
]\Iill Creek. From this our township, ob- 
tained the name of Maxatawn}'. 

JMoselem, another stream near town, sig- 
nifies trout stream and is well named as it 
continues one of the best trout fishing re- 
sorts to this dav. 

Loskiel and Heckewelder, the Moravian 



pitalitv even to strangers is regarded as a 
sacred duty. However their conduct tow= 
ard an enemy is cruel and when enraged, 
nothing short of murder and bloodshed 
is the result, and their fury knows no 
bounds." Much could be written about 
their dwelling, clothing, food, agriculture, 
hunting, war, trade, traveling, amusements, 
marriage, funerals, treaties, etc., but space 
does not permit. 

Tamanend, commonly called Tamany, ac- 
cording to Heckewelder, was one of their 
ancient chiefs who never had an equal, 
and who may have lived as late as 1680. 




Chief L,apawinsoe 



missionaries, writing at length about Indian 
manners and customs, may here be quoted 
briefly. "Their skin is reddish brown, the 
hair black and coarse. Their smell, sight, 
and hearing is very acute and their mem- 
ory strong. In common life and conversa- 
tion the Indians observe great decency. 
They usually deal with one another and 
strangers with kindness and civility, and 
without empty compliments. Swearing and 
drunkenness was unknown prior to the ad- 
vent of the white man, and their vices were 
few. The aged are much respected; hos- 



Allumapes, also called Sassoonan, was 
chief from 1718 to 1728. Other chiefs of 
this tribe were Lingahonoa, Lapawinsoe, 
Tiscohan, Manangy, and Teedyuscung, the 
latter being made chief in 1756. Manangy 
is said to have been chief of the Schuyl- 
kill (roaring stream) Indians and may have 
sojourned here. 

John D. Cremer writes that the Chiho- 
hockis, a sub-tribe of the Delawares, dwelt 
along the Schuylkill and west bank of the 
Delaware. 

The famous Penn treaty was made in 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



1682, but after Penn's time the troubles 
of the Indians began. In 1737 the famous 
walking purchase took place at which time 
they were cheated out of much land. La- 
oawinsoe and Tiscohan were signers of 
this walking purchase treaty. 

Probably no other tribe of Indians ex- 
perienced so many vicissitudes, being driv- 
en from "post to pillar" and scattered with 
no permanent abode. Encroachment of 
white settlers compelled their removal to 





Wyoming Valley in 1724, to Allengheny in 
1742, to Ohio in 1751, to Indiana in 1770, 
to Missouri in 1789, later to Arkansas, to 
Texas in 1820, to Kansas in 1835, and, last- 
ly, to the Indian lerritory in 1867, when 
united with the Cherokee Indians. Those 
who remained with the main body, num- 
bering 754 persons, appeared to be over 
their trouble and were assured of a perm- 
anent abode in their well earned "land of 
Canaan." They can look back contentedly 
upon the hardshins of their exodus, as with 
their allotment of land and money held by 
the Government they are worth several 
thousand dollars per capita, — more than the 
average citizen of any civilized nation. 
However those who left the main body 
are scattered in Canada, Wisconsin and 
other states, and did not share in the allot- 
ment of land. 

At some remote time they must have 
numbered many thousands, but during the 
last century this scattered tribe has at any 
one time comprised not more than 2400 to 
3000 persons. 

On September 7, 1732, Sassoonan and 
six other chiefs sold "all those lands lying 
and being on the said Schuylkill and the 
tributaries thereof, between the mountains 
called Lichai, (Lehigh or South Moun- 
tains,) to the south and the hills or moun- 
tains called, Keekochtatenni, (Kittatinny or 
Blue Mountains,) on the north between the 
branches of the Delaware river on the east 



and the water falling into the Susquehanna 
river on the west." This included our 
town site now celebrating its Centennial. 
1 he purchase price was as follows, namely : 

20 brass kettles, 100 Stroudwater match 
coats of two yards each, 100 duffles, of two 
yards each; 100 blankets, 100 yards half 
tick, 60 linen shirts, 20 hats, 6 made coats, 
12 pair shoes, 30 pair stockings, 300 pounds 
gun powder, 600 pounds lead, 20 fine guns, 
12 gun locks, 50 tomahawks, 50 planting 
hoes, 120 knives, 60 pair scissors, 100 to- 
bacco tongs, 24 looking glasses, 40 tobacco 
boxes, 1000 flints, 5 pounds paint, 24 dozen 
garters, 6 dozen ribbons, 12 dozen rings, 
200 awl blades, 400 tobacco pipes, 20 gal- 
lons rum, and 50 pounds money. 

These land purchases suggest that when 
the Indians came into possession of iron 
hoes, knives, awls, etc., they eagerly ac- 
cepted these substitutes and discarded stone 
implements, which, no doubt, accounts for 
the many stone implements found on their 
camp sites. 

When the French and Indian war broke 
out in 1755, many murders were committed 
bv Indians on the white settlers along the 
Blue Mountains. During this trying period 
a letter was written by Valentine Probst in 
Albany township, to Jacob Levan in Maxa- 
tawny, dated February 11^, 1756, asking aid 
to defend themselves against these maraud- 




ers. Mr. Levan was, no doubt, a large 
land holder and operator of Levan's Mill, 
near Eagle Point, built prior to 1740, now 
operated by a descendant of the same name. 
It is a matter of record that, "A road was 
laid out from Levan's Mill in Maxatawny 
to the King's Highway in Oley bv John 
Yoder's fence." This road we may imagine 
followed an old Indian trail, and the writ- 
er remembers a number of remnants of 
this road from a point beyond the rail= 



8 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



road cut to Bowers Station, existing forty 
years ago. It crossed a number of camp 
sites and beyond Bowers passed the famous 
Jasper quarries, (where the Aborigines pro- 
cured the yellow, red and brown flint to 
make their best implements,) thence thru 
Forge Dale to Oley, which was also thick- 
ly settled by Indians. 

Our townsman, A. N. Levan, relates an 
incident, the story of which was handed 
down in their family, that an Indian came 
stealthily to the mill and was shot by his 
ancestor and hurriedly buried under the 
Dorch steps of the old house which stood 
in what is now a little garden in front of 
the mill. Later two Indians came hunting 
for their partner but not finding him, re- 
treated. 

It has also been handed down from gen- 




ed by the writer, since 1876, (then starting 
as a collector at the age of six years, ) may 
as well go on record. Starting at Fox Hill 
on the Sell farm a mile southeast of town, 
camp sites were almost continuous along 
Saucony Creek over the farms of Mrs. Ame- 
lia Strasser, the Hoch farm, now owned bv 




Chas. K. Deisher ; Dr. Edward Hottenstein, 
J. J. Hottenstein, Sarah L. Nicks Estate, 
William Bieber, Mrs. Treichler, Pleasant 
View Stock Farm, Jerome Christman and 
Dr. John DeTurk, west of town on the old 
Biehl farm now owned by Chas. Deisher; 
Sam. H. Heffner, also the Peter Deisher 
and John, later William, Deisher farms ; the 
two latter now owned by Isaac Fegley and 
Mrs. Maria E. Bieber. These farms have 
many good springs of water around which 
the Indians had located. 

Following the stream formed by these 
sorings and passing through a gorge in 
the hills we come to the Daniel, Jacob and 
Henry Kohler farms on which camps have 
been located which must have been occu- 



eration to generation in the Kemp family 
and imparted to the writer by his friend, 
Nathan S. Kemp, that two Indians lingered 
in this section after their friends had left. 
One of them contracted small pox and was 
either accidentally or wilfully drowned in 
Benjamin Levan's miil race. The one re- 
maining whose name was Kneebuckle, left 
for parts unknown about 1760. During 
earlier years Indians often came to the De- 
walt Kemp home and slept by the log fire 
on the hearth, always departing before the 
family arose in the morning. Two prom- 
inent camp sites are located on this farm, a 
mile beyond Kemp's tavern. The writer on 
his first visit to this place about 1884, bor- 
rowed a basket to carry home his find of 
implements. 

Other camp sites in this vicinity as locat- 





pied for a long time. These farms are now 
owned by lohn M. Kohler and Wm. P. 
Kutz. 

On Whit-Monday 1847, o"'' well known 
townsman, George O'Neill, deceased, Gust 
Flickinger, Joseph Wink, Peter Fritz, and 
William Becker, opened Indian graves in 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



the woods on the Biehl farm, west of town. 
Glass beads and other objects were found, 
which were exhibited at the Heidenreich 
and Kutz (now Sharadin and Sharadin) 
store and at the printing office of "Geist 
Der Zeit." The following day an "army" 
as Mr. O'Neill termed it, went out to dig, 
but Mr. Biehl forbade it. What became of 
all the objects found is not known; how- 
ever, a few beads are in the possession of 
Eugene Sharadin and a brass kettle and 
gun lock are in the collection of the late 
Dr. Cyrus Wanner. 

On May 23, 1901, after the place had 



been under cultivation more than 50 years, 
the burial site was re-located by permission 
of my uncle, Charles Deisher, supervised by 
the writer and assisted by Frank Rahn, 
Chas. A. Mertz, Chas. K. Deisher, William 
Wessner, F. B. Druckenmiller, George P. 
Keehn, Charles A. Swoyer and John Stump, 

Mr. O'Neill in describing the location 
had been misled by the change of a drive- 
way or woodland road from the west side 
of the log house to the east side. But the 
writer's father, John D. Deisher, remem- 
bered that "in the fall of 1847 his father 




The Deisher Indian Pot 



lO 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



II 



had directed him to put a stick in the bung 
hole of a barrel and go to Jacob Biehl to 
make water cider." Coming up what was 
then an old woodland road, he noticed to 
the left where the five boys had dug the 
previous spring of the year. We dug for 
three hours and being about ready to aban- 
don the project, I concluded to make obser- 
vations, by circling the place, set my eyes 
on a spot, walking up to it and making a 
scratch, calling Frank Rahn to start a ditch. 
Several shovel fulls of earth removed, re- 
vealed that I had scratched on the exact 
SDot of a grave. A necklace of white and 
blue beads, several long stemmed white clay 
pipes, and a small iron cup were found just 
under the cultivated soil. Four more graves 
were found, some of which had been open- 
ed 54 years before. A necklace composed 
of colored glass beads and brass thimbles 



Harry Weylie, Frank Powley, Geo. Smith, 
Lewis DeTurk, and others. Having pur- 
chased part of this tract and rented another 
portion, orders were given to plow deep 
and mark variations in soil. These efforts 
were rewarded by the location of nine fire 
places where huts had existed. Later while 
grading a street across this camp, three 
"Cache" or storage pits were located, one 
of them a beautiful bowl shaped hole in 
the clay 30 inches deep and 28 inches in 
diameter. This street has been named Len- 
ni Street, in honor of the tribe. Later while 
digging a post hole directly inside the pave- 
ment on the corner of Normal Avenue and 
Lenni Street another storage pit was found 
by the writer and this yielded the priceless 
fragments of an Indian pot which has been 
restored at considerable labor and expense. 
The pot is of the typical Delaware type 




lyOG House Near Indian Borial Site — Deisher and His Explorers 



in pairs were threaded on buckskin thongs. 
The bones indicated that they were of full 
grown persons and the fact that the graves 
were only three feet long, eighteen inches 
wide by about thirty inches deep, indicates 
that these were what are termed "bundle 
burial," that is, these persons had been bur= 
ied on the top of the ground under cover 
until the bodies were decayed and later in- 
terred the bones, which was their custom 
in pre-historic times. 

Last but not least are the Indian camp 
sites within otir Borough limits, on the 
Sarah L. Nicks Estate, known as the David 
Levan farm, extending across the William 
Bieber abandoned brick yard and along the 
creek as far as Main street. This short 
stretch has probably yielded 2000 specimens 
to the writer's collection, being my own ef- 
forts since 1878 and those of Lewis Bloch, 



with pointed base and flaring rim, the sides 
being covered with cord marks formed 
by a paddle which had been wrapped with 
cord. It is decorated on the upper part with 
short horizontal lines formed by a roulette 
wheel ; this wheel was a simple circular 
piece of wood with notched edge which was 
attached to a handle and rocked back and 
forth to form the design. The lip of the 
vessel and the inner part of the rim are 
decorated with similar lines. 

The vessel having been broken in pre- 
historic times was mended bv drilling holes 
in either side of the break. There are 
three series of these holes, two of which 
contain three drillings and the other two. 
The ones having three drill-holes are at 
Doints where the break caused a right angle 
and the grouping of these holes forms a 
triangle. 



12 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




IvOCating the Indian Burial Site— 1901 



When drillings of this type were resort- 
ed to, the vessel was mended and strength- 
ened b}' thongs or cord which were passed 
through the holes and tied. It is possible 
that these breaks were then covered with 
gum or possibly clay. The height of the 
vessel is II inches and its greatest diameter 
0% inches. A picture of this pot is shown 
herewith, also a number of typical speci- 
mens of stone. 

Contributors to this collection from other 
oarts of the county were Samuel S. Gruber, 
William H. Kraus, Albert Reimert, Samuel 
Arnoldt, Mathias Fritz, John Wyandt, Al- 
bert Kline, Daniel Kohler, Alvin Kohler, 
Adam Kohler and John L. D. Kohler, and 



J. B. Faust. Dr. E. J. Sellers, the druggist, 
has many fine specimens from local camp- 
sites. 

It may be noted here that an Indian, a 
descendant of the Lenni Lenape tribe, was 
a passenger on the first trolley car passing 
through Kutztown, as a guest of the writer. 

"Where is my home — my forest home? 

The proud land of my sires? 

Where stands the wigwam of my pride? 

Where gleam the council fires? 

Where are my fathers" hallowed graves? 

My friends so light and gay? 

Cone, gone — forever from my view ! 

Great Spirit! Can it be? 

Hbnry K. DeishEr 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OP KUTZTOWN 



13 



THE SETTLEMENT OF MAXATAWNY 



Maxatawny was settled early in the eigh- 
teenth century. The exact date of the en- 
trance of the first settlers, pioneers, who 
came from Philadelphia, directly or, most of 
them, indirectly by way of Falkner Swamp 
and Oley, cannot be determined. The land 
lying in this valley was purchased from the 
Indians September 7, 1732. The deed of 
sale was executed by "Sassoonan, alias Al- 
lummapis, sachem of the Schuylkill Indians, 
in the province of Pennsylvania, Elalapis, 
Ohopamen, Pesqueetomen, Mayeemoe, Part- 
ridge, and Tepakoaset, alias Joe, on behalf 
of themselves and all the other Indians of 
the said nation, unto John Penn, Thomas 
Penn, and Richard Penn. The territory in 
IJie grant is described as follows : 

"All those tracts of land or lands lying 
on or near the river Schuylkill, in said prov- 
ince, or any of the branches, streams, foun- 
tains or springs thereof, eastward or west- 
ward and all lands lying in or near any 
swamps, marshes, fens or meadows, the wa- 
ters or streams of which flow into or toward 
the said river Schuylkill situate, lying 
and being between those hills called Lechay 
Hills and those called Keekachtanemin 
Hills, which cross the said river Schuylkill 
about thirty miles above the said Lechay 
hills, and all land whatsoever lying within 
the said bounds ; and between the branches 
of Delaware river, on the eastern side of 
the said land, and the branches or streams 
running into the river Susquehanna, on 
the western side of the said lands, together 
with all mines, minerals, quarries, waters, 
rivers, creeks, woods, timber, and trees, 
with all and every the appurtenances, etc." 

The consideration mentioned in the deed 
consisted of the following articles : 

"20 brass kettles, 100 stroudwater match- 
coats of two yards each, 100 duffels do., 
100 blankets, 100 yards of half tick, 60 linen 
shirts, 20 hats, 6 made coats, 12 pairs of 
shoes and buckles, 30 pair of stockings, 300 
lbs. of gunpowder, 600 lbs. of lead, 20 fine 
guns, 12 gun locks, 50 tomahawks or hatch- 
ets, 50 planting hoes, 120 knives, 60 pair 
of scissors, 100 tobacco tongs, 24 looking- 
glasses, 40 tobacco boxes, 1000 flints, 50 
pounds of paint, 24 dozen of gartering, 6 
dozen of ribbons, 12 dozen of rings, 200 
awl blades, 100 pounds of tobacco, 400 to- 
bacco pipes, 20 gallons of rum and fifty 
pounds in money." 

Lingahonoa, one of the Schuylkill In- 



dians, executed the deed on the 12th of July, 
1742, upon receiving his full share and pro- 
portion of the several goods mentioned, he 
"happening not to be present when his 
brethren signed and executed the same." 
His execution was attested by Benjamin 
Franklin, William Peters, Conrad Weiser 
and Lynford Lardner. 

In his "Historical sketch of Kutztown 
and Maxatawny" (published in 1876) Pro- 
fessor John S. Ermentrout says: "This 
township was settled very soon after the 
year 1732." The accuracy of this state- 
ment is rendered somewhat doubtful by a 
previous delivery on the same page (p. 5), 
where we read : 

"Prior to 1734, in Maxatawny, lived the 
following persons who owned land and 
paid quit-rents : — 



Jacob Hottenstein 

Peter Andreas 

Jacob Levan 

Jacob Kemp 

Wilhelm Gross 

Casper Wink 

Christian Mahnenschmidt 

Jacob Hill 

Isaac Leonard 

Peter Trealer 

Hans Hage 



Bastian Terr."' 
Nicholas Kutz 
Abraham Zimmerman 
Jost. Hen. Sassaman 
Andreas Fischer 
Heinrich Hartman 
Michael Mueller 
Hans Kleimer 
Heinrich Schade 
Jeremiah Trealer 
Bastian Terr."* 



Montgomery adds: "The township was 
settled immediately after the land was re- 
leased by the Indians." 

This statement, like that of Ermentrout 
is, on the face of it improbable, and for 
these considerations : 

1. The sale was made by the Indians 
in September 1732. From that date to 
"prior to 1734" would be only a little over 
one .vear, quite too brief a period for the 
territory to acquire so many taxables (22) 
as are given in the list. 

2. It is of record that on November 
18, 1729, Nicholas Kutz, named in the fore- 
going list of taxables, bought from Casper 
Wistar, "brass button manufacturer," of 
Philadelphia, for the sum of 52 pounds, 10 
shillings, one hundred and fifty acres of 
land in Maxatawny, Philadelphia County. 
This tract was located near Eagle Point 
and is now in possession of Israel Kutz. 

iThis name is spelled Ferr in Ermentrout's 
pamphlet and is so reprinted in Montgomer}''s 
"History of Berks County" (1S66), p. 1041. 
"Ferr" is asserted to be a misprint for "Terr," 
an early form of the family name now written 
Derr. 



14 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



3. It is also of record that on the preced- 
ing day, November 17, 1729, Jacob Hotten- 
stein, bought from Casper Wistar, one 
hundred and sixteen acres of land in Maxa- 
tawny. 

RELEASE AND DEED 
This Indenture made the Eighteenth Day of 
November In the Year of our Lord One thou- 
sand seven hundred & twenty nine Bctivecn 
Casper Wistar of the City of Philadelphia Brass- 
button maker and Catharine his Wife Of the 
One Part and Jacob Huddlestone of Maxhe- 
tawny in the County of Philadelphia Of the 
other part Witnesse'ih That the said Caspar 
Wistar and Catharine his Wife For the Con- 
sideration of Forty Pounds twelve Shilling law- 
ful money of Pennsylvania to them paid by the 
said Jacob Huddlestone have granted bargained 
sold released and confirmed And by these Pres- 
ents for them and their Heirs do grant bargain 
sell release and confirm Unto the said Jacob 
Huddlestone (In his actual Seizin now being by 
Virtue of a Bargain and Sale unto him made by 
the said Caspar Wistar & Catharine his Wife 
For the Terra of one Year by Indenture bearing 
Date the Day next before the Day of the Date 
hereof made between the same Parties as these 
Presents and to his Heirs and Assigns) A Cer- 
tain Piece or Tract of Land situate in Maxhe- 
tawny aforesaid Beginning at a Post at a Corner 
of Caspar Wistar's other Land Thence extending 
by that and vacant Land South ten Degrees East 
Two hundred Perches to a black Oak Sapling 
Thence by vacant Land South eighty Degrees 
West ninety three Perches to a Post Thence by 
Land of Peter Andrews North ten Degrees West 
Two Hundred Perches to a Post Thence by 
Lands of Nicholas Couts North eighty Degrees 
East ninety-three Perches to the Place of Be- 
ginning Containing One hundred and Sixteen 
Acres ( It being Part of the fourth described of 
several Tracts, which by Patent of the first Day 
of September last past Under the Hands of the 
Proprietarv Commissioners and Great Seal of the 
said Province were granted unto the said Caspar 
Wistar In Fee Entered of Record at Philadel- 
phia Book A Vol. 6 Page 106) Together also 
with all and singular the Ways Woods Waters 
Water Courses Rights Liberties Privileges Im- 
provements Hereditaments and Appurtenances 
whatsoever unto the hereby granted Premises be- 
longing And the Reversions and remainders there- 
by To have & to hold the said One Hundred and 
16 Acres of Land Hereditaments and Premises 
hereby granted or mentioned to be granted with 
the Appurtenances Unto the said Jacob Huddle- 
stone and his Heirs To the Use and Behoof of 
him the said Jacob Huddlestone his Heirs and 
Assigns forever Under the proportionable part of 
the Proprietary Quit rert in the said recited Pat- 
ent mentioned as hereafter yearly accruing And 
the said Caspar Wistar doth Covenant for him 
and his Heirs the said Land and Premises hereby 
granted with the Apnurtenances Unto the said 
Tacoh Huddlestone his Heirs & Assigns against 
him the said Caspar Wistar and his Heirs and all 
Persons claiming under him or them shall and will 
^Varrant and forever defend by these Presents 
And the said Caspar Wistar for himself his Heirs 
Executors and Administrators doth Covenant 
nromise and grant to and with the said Jacob 
Huddlestone his Heirs & Assigns by these Pres- 
ents That the said Caspar Wistar and his Heirs 
and all and every other Person or Persons 



lawfully claiming or to claim any Estate Right 
Title or interest of in or to the Premises or any 
Part or Parcel thereof by from or under him or 
them or any of them shall & will, at any Time 
within the Space of Fourteen Years next en- 
suing the Date hereof, at the reasonable Request 
and Charges in Law of the said Jacob Huddle- 
stone his Heirs or Assigns make execute and 
acknowledge or cause so to be all and every 
such further or other Act and Acts Deed or 
Deeds Device or Devices in law for the further 
and better Assurance and Confirmation of the 
ore hundred and sixteen Acres of Land Heredi- 
taments and Premises hereby granted or men- 
tioned to be granted with the Appurtenances un- 
to the said Jacob Huddlestone his Heirs and 
Assigns as by him or them Or by his or their 
Councel learned in the Law shall be reasonably 
devised advised or required So as such Assur- 
ance contain no further or other Warrant or 
Covenant than these Presents. In Witness where- 
of the said Parties to these Presents have inter- 
changeably set their Hands and Seals hereunto 
Dated the Day & Year first above written. 

CASPAR WISTAR, [l. s.] 
CATHARINE WISTAR [r.. s.] 
Sealed and Delivered 
In the Presence of us 

CONRAT REIF, 
WILLIAM PARSONS. 

Entered in the Office for Recording of Deeds 
for the City and County of Philadelphia, in Book 
F Vol. 6 Page 335 &c. The fourteenth Day of 
August. Ao. Di. One thousand seven hundred and 
thirty four Witness my Hand and Seal to my 
Office aforesaid. 

C. BrockdeNj Recorder. 

4. Most conclusive of all is the fact that 
on December i, 1724, one Peter Wentz, 
patented one thousand acres of land ; the 
price paid was one hundred and sixty 
pounds. The patent, which was recorded 
December 5, 1728, was issued by "Richard 
Hill, Isaac Norris, James Logan and Thom- 
as Grififits, commissioners," acting for the 
authorities of the Province. In this patent 
the land is described as situate on the Sau- 
conv in "the Province of Pennsylvania and 
County of Newcastle-Sussex on the Dela- 
ware." This is especially interesting as 
showing that at that early date this section 
was supposed to be in Newcastle county, 
one of the lower counties of the Province, 
into the "wilderness," a short time after- 
wards separated from Pennsylvania, but 
then extending indefinitely into the "wild- 
erness" in a north-westernly direction with 
limits exceedingly vague in all directions 
except in their southern portion. Soon af- 
ter this date, however, patents and deeds 
locate this section in Philadelphia county, 
showing that this uncertainty of location 
had disappeared. 

PATENT 

Richard Hill, Isaac Norris, James Logan and 
Thomas Griffitts. Commissioners, to Peter Wents. 
Province of Pennsylvania and County of New- 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



15 



castle, Sussex on the Delaware. Attorneys of 
Joshua, Sec, of city of London, Silkman, Thomas 
Oad, of the city of Bristol, England, and John 
Woods, of London, Merchant, surviving mort- 
gagees and trustees of said province and count}': 
To all unto whom these presents shall come. 

Hon. William Penn, Esq., Proprietary author- 
izes the Surveyor General on the ist day of De- 
cember, 1724, to grant unto the said Peter Wents 
a patent of 1000 acres situated on the Saucony, 
a branch of the Schuylkill river, — the same de- 
scribed and bounded as follows : — Beginning at 
a post for a corner, thence N. 20 deg. W., along 
a line of well-marked trees, a distance of 362 
perches to a post : thence N. 70 deg. E., along a 
line of well-marked trees, a distance of 375 
perches to a post; thence S. 20 deg. E., along a 
line of well-marked trees, a distance of 150 
perches to a post ; thence N. 70 deg. E., along a 
line of well-marked trees, a distance of 160 
perches to a post; thence S. 20 deg. E., along a 
line of well-marked trees, a distance of 212 
oerches to a post ; thence S. 70 deg. W., along a 
line of well-marked trees, a distance of 536 
perches to the place of beginning; containing 
1000 acres, and an allowance of 6 acres on every 
100 for roads and highways. Granted for the 
consideration of 160 pounds, and recorded De- 
cember 5th, 172S. 

In the recorded cop)' of the patent, to be 
seen at Harrisburg, the metes and bounds 
are stated elaborateh^ but the exact loca- 
tion of the tract is a matter of some doubt 
as the location of the starting- point is not 
fixed by any now recognized landmark. 
That it included the site of the present bor- 
ough of Kutztown, at least in part, may 
be inferred from the wording of a deed 
in possession of Mr. Wilson B. Kutz, liv- 
ing representative of a long line of succes- 
sive owners of a portion of the tract. From 
this deed it is learned that 514 acres of this 
tract in Maxatawnv was purchased from 
Peter Wentz by James (alias) Jacobus De- 
laplank, a resident of Oley township, who, 
in his will, "bearing date the 2gth of May 
-\nno Domini 1758," devised the same to 
his son, Frederick Delaplank. The same 
was sold at sheriff's sale, May nth, 1767, 
"bv Jasper Scull, Esquire, High Sheriff" 
of Berks County, to Peter Rothermel. On 
December 19, 1772, the new owners (Peter 
Rothermel and Sybilla, his wife) trans- 
ferred 120 acres of this tract to Jacob 
Sweyer. From this last about go acres 
passed June 17, 1789, into possession of 
Leonard Rishel, who, on July 29, 1820, 
sold from it a piece of 34 acres and 17 
perches to Philip ]\'Iver, which in course 
of time came into the possession of the 
late William S. Kutz, resident at the west- 
ern end of town, beyond the borough limits. 

The following papers are reproduced in 
this connection as possibly helpful to better 
understanding of the somewhat complicated 
question of original ownership of the .=iteof 
Kutztown : 



EXEMPLIFICATIONS OF PROCEEDINGS 

REAL ESTATE OF JACOB KUTZ, 

DEC'D 

Berks County, ss : 

GEORGE, the THIRD by the Grace of God, 
of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, De- 
fender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these 
presents shall come Greeting. Know Ye that 
among the Records and proceedings of the Or- 
phans' Court of the Countv of Berks aforesaid. 
At an Orphans' Court held at Reading in and 
for the said County of Berks the tenth Day of 
August in the ninth Year of Our Reign and in 
the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hun- 
dred and sixty nine Before Jonas Seely Esquire 
and his Associates, Justices of the said Court, 
&c., and at divers other Days and Times there- 
after 

It is thus contained 

Upon the Petition of Jacob Kutz, Eldest Son and 
Heir at Law of Jacob Kutz late of the Town- 
ship of Maxatawny in Berks County Yeoman 
deceased, setting forth ; — 

"That the petitioner's said Father died Intes- 
tate about eighteen Months since, leaving a 
Widow, to wit, Elisabeth, and issue Eight Chil- 
dren, to wit, the petitioner, John Adam, Peter, 
Elisabeth the Wife of Jacob Schweyer, Catha- 
rina the wife of George Ott, Susanna and Bar- 
bara, and that the said Intestate, at the Time 
of his Death was seised in his Demesne as of 
Fee of and in a certain Messuage or Tenement 
Plantation and Tract of Land situate in the said 
Township of Maxatawny, bounded by Lands of 
Jacob Teyscher, Michael Henninger, George 
Kutz and Peter Rothermel, Containing by Esti- 
mation One hundred and ninety Acres, be the 
same more or less, with the Appurtenances. 
And therefore praying the Court to award and 
Inquest to make partition of the Premises to and 
among the parties aforesaid if the same could 
be done without Prejudice to or spoiling the 
Whole thereof ; But if such partition could not 
he made without nrejudice to or spoiling the 
Whole of the Real Estate aforesaid — then pray- 
ing the Court to order that the Inquest to be 
awarded should value and appraise the said Mes- 
suage or Tenement Plantation and' Tract of One 
hundred and ninety Acres of Land, be the same 
more or less, with the Appurtenances in order 
that the petitioner might be enabled to hold and 
enjoy the same upon his paying or securing to 
be paid to the other Children and Representatives 
of the said Intestate their Several and respec- 
itve Shares and Dividends of and in such Valua- 
tion according to the Laws of this Provinc" of 
Pennsylvania in such Case made and provided." 
The Court did award an Inquest to make par- 
tition of the Real Estate in the said petition 
soecified, late of the said Intestate to and amons- 
his Children and Representatives the aforesaid 
in such Manner and in such proportions as by 
the Laws of this province is directed and ap- 
pointed if such partition could be made without 
nrejudice to or spoiling the Whole thereof ; But 
if such partition could not be made without 
prejudice to or spoiling the Whole, then to value 
and appraise the said Real Estate with the Ap- 
purtenances and make Report of their Doings 
therein to the Court agreeable to the Acts of 
the General Assembly of this Province of Penn- 
sylvania in such Case made and provided. And 
a Writ for the purposes aforesaid issued to Our 
Sheriff of the county of Berks afsd. directed. 



i6 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



bearing Teste the same Tenth Da3' of August 
in the Ninth Year of Our Reign and returnaDle 
the Fourth Day of September then next ensuing, 
at which Fourth Day of September in the Year 
aforesaid Before the Justices of the Orphans 
Court then held at Reading in and for the 
Lounty of Berks Our Sheriff of the said County, 
to wit, Jacob Shoemaker, Esq., made Return of 
the said Writ in the Following Words (thereon 
indorsed) to wit: 'To the justices aforenamed I 
do hereby Certify that by Virtue of the afore- 
written Writ to me directed I have taken with 
me twelve honest and lawful Men of my Baili- 
wick and gone to the Messuage or Tenement 
and Tract of Land in the said Writ mentioned, 
Containing One hundred and thirty Acres, or 
thereabouts, and all and singular premises where- 
of Jacob Kutz the Intestate in the said Writ 
named dyed seised in Maxatawny Township, and 
on the Oath and Affirmation of the Inquest afsd. 
respectively finding the same could not be^ part- 
ed and divided to and among the parties in the 
said Writ named without Prejudice to or spoil- 
ing the Whole thereof, have valued and appraised 
the same as by the said Writ I am commanded, 
as appears by the Schedule hereunto annexed. So 
answers Jacob Shoemaker, Sheriff Schedule an- 
nexed). Inquisition indented, made and taken 
at the Township of Maxatawny in the County 
of Berks, the second Day of September in the 
Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
and sixtv nine Before Jacob Shoemaker, Esq., 
High Sheriff of the County aforesaid by Virtue 
of His Maiesty's Writ to him directed and to 
this Inquisition annexed, by the Oath of George 
Kelchner and Peter Scherer and the Solemn Af- 
firmation of George Merckle, Daniel Levan, 
Frederick Hill, Jacob Teuscher, Friedrick Haus- 
man. Joseph Siegfrid, John Bast, Jacob Levan, 
Michael Heninger and Attorney Fischer, twelve 
free, honest and lawful Men, of the said County, 
Who upon their Oath and Affirmation aforesaid 
respectively do say that they went to the Mes- 
suasre or Tenement Plantation and Tract of Land 
in the said Writ mentioned, Containing One hun- 
dred and thirty Acres or thereabouts, be the same 
more or less, whereof Jacob Kutz the Intestate 
in the said Writ named dyed seised, and then 
and there found the same could not be parted 
and divided to and among the parties in the 
said Writ named without prejudice to or spoiling 
the Whole thereof, and therefore on their Oath 
and Affirmation aforesaid they the said Inquest 
have valued and appraised the said Messuage 
Tenement Plantation or Tract of Land with the 
Appurtenances of the Sum of twelve Hundred 
and Fifty Pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania 
Subject to all Moneys and Quitrents now due 
and hereafter to become due and payable for 
the same to the Chief Lord or Lords for the 
Fee thereof. In testimony thereof as well the 
said Sheriff as the Inquest aforesaid have here- 
unto interchangeablv set their Hands and Seals 
the Day and Year above said. Jacob Shoemaker, 
Sheriff (Seal) Frederick Hauzman (Seal) Jo- 
seph Sigfridt (Sea!) John Bast (Seal) Jacob 
Levan (Seal) Michel Henninger (Seal) Anton 
Fischer (Seal) Georg Kolchner (Seal) Peter 
Storer (Seal) Georg Morckel (Sesl) Daniel Le- 
van (Seal) Frederick Hill (Seal) Jacob Drescher 
(Seal)." And the said Return and Inquisition 
being read were confirmed And thereuoon it was 
considered and adjudged by the Court that the 
said Jacob Kutz Eldest Son and Heir at Law 
of the said Jacob Kutz deceased should hold 
and enjoy the Messuage or Tenement Plantation 



and Tract of Land in the Return afsd. specified 
with the Appurtenances whereof his said Father 
dyed seised Intestate, valued as aforesaid, to 
him his Heirs and Assigns for Ever as fully and 
freely as the said Intestate had and held the 
same in his lifetime. He first paying or giving 
Security for the payment of the Shares and 
Dividends of the younger Children of the said 
Intestate according to Law, which Sureties were 
to be approved of by the Court And Afterwards, 
to wit, the twelfth Day of June in the tenth Year 
of Our Reign and in the Year of our Lord one 
thousand seven hundred and seventy at an Or- 
phans Court then held at Reading in and for 
the County of Berks aforesaid Before the Jus- 
tices of the said Court The Petition of the sa-'d 
Jacob Kutz Eldest Son and Heir at Law of the 
aforesaid Jacob Kutz deceased setting forth 
"That the Messuage or Tenement Plantation or 
Tract of land late of the said Intestate situate in 
the Township of Maxatawny aforesaid. Contain- 
ing One hundred and thirty Acres or thereabouts, 
with Appurtenances, was, by Virtue of a Writ of 
Partition or Valuation issued out of the Orphans 
Court of the County aforesaid bearing Teste the 
Tenth Day of August last past valued and an- 
praised at the Sum of Twelve Hundred and Fifty 
Pounds lawful Money of Pennsvlvania. That 
the personal Estate of the said Intestate falls 
nine hundred and thirteen pounds, six shillings 
and eight pence short of paying his Debts as 
aooears by the Administration Accompt thereof 
this Day rendered into the Register General's 
Office, at Reading, which the petitioner is willing 
to undertake to settle and pay if the same may 
be allowed to him out of the Valuation Money 
aforesaid." And therefore praying the Court 
"To confirm the said Messuage or Tenement 
Plantation and Tract of Land to him his He'rs 
and Assigns for Ever subject to the aforesaid 
nine hundred and thirteen pounds, six shillings 
and eight pence. Debts due from the said Estate, 
on his Giving Nicholas Kutz and John Adam 
Kutz, both of Maxatawny Townshio aforesaid 
Yeomen, Security for the pavment of three hun- 
dred and thirty six pounds thirteen shillinss and 
four pence (The residue of the Valuation Money 
aforesaid after the Debts aforesaid due from the 
said Estate being first deducted) to the other 
Children and Representatives of the said Inte- 
state according to Law," was read and granted 
And the Court do here approve of the said Nicho- 
las Kutz and John Adam Kutz as Securities to 
enter into Bonds with the said Tacob Kutz for 
the payment of the Shares and Dividends of the 
other Children and Representatives of the said 
Intestate of and in the said three hundred and 
thirty six pounds thirteen shillings and four 
pence Residue of the Valuation Money afore- 
said (The Debts aforesaid being deducted) on 
the Fourth Dav of Seotember next ensuina' (^re- 
serving to Elizabeth the Widow of the said In- 
testate her Dower therein) Upon Sealing and 
Delivery of which Bonds it is considered and 
adjudsed bv the Court that the said Jacob Kutz. 
the Son. shall hold and enjoy the Lands and 
Premises aforesaid with the Appurtenances, in 
Maxatawny Township aforesaid, as Heir at Law 
of his said Father Tacob Kutz, deceased, to him 
his Heirs and Assigns for Ever according to 
Law Subject to the payment of the aforesaid 
nine hundred and thirteen pounds six shillings 
and eight pence Debts due from the Estate of 
the said Intestate. And the Bonds aforesaid 
were entered into accordingly. 

All and singular which Premises by the Tenor 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



17 



of these presents We have commanded to be ex- 
emplified In Testimony whereof We have caused 
the Seal of the said County of Berks to be af- 
fixed to these presents Witness Jonas Seely, Es- 
qire, at Reading, the said twelfth Dav of June, 
in the Tenth Year of Our Reign Annoque Dom- 
ini 1770. 



DEED 
FREDERICK HITTLE AND WIFE 

TO 

DEWALD KUTZ 

For 7 Acres 112 Perches 

In Maxetany Berks County 

This Indenture, Made the first day of April 
In the Year of Our Lord one thousand Seven 
Hundred and Ninety five Between Frederick Hit- 
tie of Maxetany Township in the County of 
Berks and State of Pennsylvania Yeoman and 
Maria his Wife of the one part and Dewald Kutz 
of Kutztown in the Township and County afore- 
said, Cordwainer of the other part Whitnesseth, 
that the said Frederick Hittle and Maria his 
Wife for and in Consideration of the Sum of 
Two Hundred Pounds LawfuU mony in gold 
and Silver of the State aforesaid, to them in 
hand well and Truly paid by the said Dewald 
Kutz at and before the Sealing and Delivery 
hereof, the Receipt whereof they the said Fred- 
erick Hittle and Maria his Wife doth hereby 
Acknowledge and thereby do Acquit and forever 
Dischargee the said Dewald Kutz and his Heirs 
and Assigns By these Presents Have Granted 
Bargained Sold Released and Confirmed And by 
these Presents Do Grant Bargain Sell Release 
and Confirm unto the said Dewald Kutz and to his 
Heirs and Assigns, a Certain Tract Piece and 
Lot of Ground Situate Lying and being in the 
said Township of Maxetany, and Beginning at a 
Post, in a line of the of the late Propriataries, 
mannor, and now in the Possession of Jacob 
Teysher North Sixty degrees East nineteen Perch- 
es to a post fence along a line of Jacob Kutz 
Land, North thirtv five degrees West Seventy 
Perches ard three Tenth of a Perch to a Post at 
the High Road leading to Reading thence along 
said Road and South thirty five degrees West 
Twentv Perches to a Post, thence South thirty 
five dearees East Sixty Perches and one half of 
a Perch to the nlace of beginning. Containing 
Seven Acres and One hundred and Twelf perches. 
Neat measure. Being cart of Five Hundred and 
fourteen acres of Land wich Jasper Scull Esquire 
'ate Hi?h Sheriff in and for the said Countv of 
Berks, In Pursuance of a '^^'rit of Fi°ri Facias 
tn him directed, and bv Virtue of a Certain 
other Writ of Venditioni Exoonas Sold the above 
discribed Tract of five hundred and fourteen 
^--res of Land with the aopurtenances. unto Peter 
Rothermel in Fee, as by the said Sheriffs Deed 
ooll bearing date the Eleventh day of May, 1767, 
and bv him Acknowledged in ooen Court of 
Tommon Pleas at Reading in and for the County 
of Berks aforesaid recourse being thereunto hath 
more fullv Appears, and whereas the said Peter 
Rothermel and Sybilla his Wife by their Inden- 
ture of Release from under their Hands and 
Seals duly Executed bearing date the Nineteenth 



day of December 1772, for the Consideration 
therein mentioned Granted and Confirmed unto 
Jacob Sweyer and to his Heirs and Assigns for 
Ever, a Tenement and Piece of One Hundred and 
Twenty Acres and Eighty five perches with the 
appurtenances, and being part of the said five 
hundred and fourteen acres (as in and by said in 
part recited Indenture Recorded in the Oiifice for 
Recording of Deeds at Reading, in and for the 
County of Berks aforesaid in Book B, Vol. i, 
page 513, &c. Recourse thereunto had more fully 
and at Large Appears and whereas, the said 
Jacob Sweyer and Elizabeth his Wife by their 
Indenture of Release from under their hands 
and Seals duly Executed bearing date the fourth 
day of May, 1789, for the Consideration therein 
mentioned Granted and Confirmed, Thirty acres 
and Forty perches of Land Strict measure (being 
part of the above mentioned Tract of One hund- 
red and Twenty acres of Land, and Premises) 
unto the above said Frederick Hittle (and Partie 
hereto) and to his Heirs and Assigns for Ever, 
Together allso with all and Singular the Build- 
ings and Improvements, Orchards field fences, 
ways woods waters water courses Rights Liber- 
ties Preveleges Hereditaments and appurtenances 
whatsoever therunto belonging or in any Wise 
appertaining and the Reversions and remainders 
Rents Issues and Profits thereof and also all the 
Estate Right Title Interest use trust benefit Pos- 
session property Claim and Demand whatsoever 
both at Law and in Equity or otherwise how- 
soever of him the said Frederick Hittle and 
Maria his Wife and their Heirs of into and out 
of the Premises hereby granted and Every part 
thereof To have and to hold the said above 
discribed Piece and Lot of Ground Containing 
Seven acres and one hundred and Twelf perches 
and being part of the above Thirty acres and 
forty perches, (Hereditaments and Premises here- 
by Granted and Every thereof, to mentioned to 
be granted with the appurtenances unto the said 
Dewald Kutz his Heirs and Assigns To the only 
"roper use benefit and behoof of him the Said 
Dewald Kutz his Heirs and Assigns for Ever 
Always Excepting and reserving for me my heirs 
and Assigns as also Excepting and reserving for 
Leonerd Rishel his Heirs and Assigns, the free 
and undistributed Priveledge and Use of the 
Draw well Standing on the South Side of the 
aforementioned Great or High Road, and on the 
said Seven Acres and One hundred and Twelf 
Perches of land, and onnosite of the Dwellins- 
house of the said Frederick Hittle) And the said 
Frederick Hittle for himself and his Heirs doth 
Covenant Promis and Grant to and with the 
said Dewald Kutz his Heirs and Assigns, by these 
presents, that he the said Frederick and his Heirs 
the said discribed Masuage and lot of Seven 
Acres and one hundred and Twelf perches of 
land Neat measure. Hereditaments and Premises 
hereby Granted meant mentioned or Intended so 
to be with the Anourtenances (Exceot as before 
Excepted) unto the said Dewald Kutz his Heirs 
and Assigns, against him the said Frederick Hit- 
tle and his Heirs, and against all and Every other 
Person or Persons Whomsoever Lawfully Claim- 
ing or to Claim the same bv from or m^df-r him 
them or any of them Shall and will Warrant 
and for Ever defend by these Presents. In Wit- 
ness whereof of the said parties hath Inter- 
chans-eable Set their hand and Seals hereunto, 
the Day and Year first above Written. 

Received the day of the above date of the 
above written Indenture of the above Named 
Dewald Kutz the Sum of Two hundred Pounds 
Lawfull mony of the State aforesaid, it being 



i8 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



the consideration mony for the above sold and 
bargained Premises in full Received from me. 

FREDERICK HITTLE (Seal) 
her 
MARIA X HITTLE (Seal) 
Mark 

Sealed and Delivered 
In the Presents of Us 

Jacob Kutz 
Philip Gcchr 

Know all Man by these Presents that Dewald 
Kiitz, of Kutz. in the Comity of Berks and 
State of Pennsylvania Cordwainer and Elizabeth 
his wife the Grandies in the within written In- 
denture mentioned for and in Consideration of 
the Sum of Two hundred & Ten Pounds LawfiiU 
mony in Gold or Silver of the State aforesaid 
to them well and Truly in hand paid by George 
Kistler of Greenwich Township in the County 
and State aforesaid Millir, the Receip whereof 
they the said Dewald Kutz and Elizabeth, his 
wife doth hereby Acknowdedge Have Granted 
Bargained Sold and Released and by these Pres- 
ents do hereby Grant Bargain Sell Release & Con- 
firm unto the said George Kistler his Heirs and 
Assigns all that within mentioned Tract piece 
and parcel of Land Containing Seven Acres and 
one hundred and Twelf perches of land Neat 
measure as bounded and discribed in this within 
Indenture Together with all and Singular the 
Premises Hereditaments and Appurtenances there- 
unto belonging or in any wise appertaining and 
the Reversions and Remainders, Rents Issues and 
Profits thereof, and also all the Estate Right 
Title Interest Use Possession property Claim and 
Demand, whatsoever of them the said Dewald 
Kutz and Elizabeth his wife in Law or Equity 
or other wise Howsoever of, in, to or, out, of 
the same hereby Granted Tract of Land and 
Premises and Every part thereof To Have and 
To hold, the said within mentioned and Discribed 
Tract and Piece of Land Containing Seven Acres 
and one hundred and Twelf perches Strict meas- 
ure of Land Hereditaments and Premises hereby 
Granted Bargained and Sold, or mentioned or 
Intended so to be with the appurtenances unto 
the said George Kistler his Heirs and Assigns, 
To the only proper use and behoof of him the 
said George Kistler his Heirs and Assigns for 
Ever. In Witness whereof the said parties to these 
Presents have Interchangeable Set their Hands 
and Seals the first day of January in the Year 
of Our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and 
Ninety Six. 

Sealed and Delivered 
In the Presents of Us 

Samuel Geehr 
Jacob Kilts 

DEWALD KUTZ (Seal) 
her 
ELIZABETH XX KUTZ (Seal) 
Mark 



Received the day of the date of the above 
written Indorsement of the above named George 
Kistler the sum of Two hundred & Ten Pounds 
LawfuU mony in gold and silver of Pennsyl- 
vania It being the consideration mony for the 



above mentioned and bargained Premises in full 
received for me. 

DEWALD KUTZ. 

Witness present at signing. 
Samuel Gcchr 
Jacob Kutz 

Berks County, ss : 

On the 31st day of December 1795. Came be- 
fore me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the 
Peace in and for the County of Berks the within 
named Frederick Hittle and Maria his Wife as 
grantees, and Acknowledged the within Mention- 
ed Indenture to be their Act and Deed and desire 
the same to be recorded as such according to 
Law She the said Maria being of full age by me 
Separately and apart of her husband Examined 
the Contents of the within Indenture first fully 
made. Known unto her She Voluntary Consent- 
ed thereto. In Witness whereof I have hereunto 
Set my hand and Seal the Day and Year first 
above written. 

PHILIP GEEHR (Seal) 

Berks County, ss : 

On the 2gth day of January Anno Domini 
1796 before me the Subscriber one of the Jus- 
tices of the Peace in and for said County of 
Berks came the above named Dewald Kutz and 
Elizabeth his Wife and Acknowledged the above 
mentioned Assignment or Indorsement to be 
their Act and Deed and desire the same to be 
Recorded as Such According to Law She the said 
Elizabeth being of full Age by me appart her 
husband Examined the Contents thereof made 
known to her She Voluntary Consented thereto. 
Witness my hand & Seal the day and year above 
said. 

PHILIP GEEHR (Seal) 



DEED 

LEONARD RISHEL TO PHILIP MEYER 

FOR 34 ACRES 17 PERCHES 

IN 

MAXATANY, BERKS CO., JULY 29 1820. 

This Indenture made the fifth day of June in 
the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven 
Hundred and Ninety four Between Leonard 
Rishel of the Township Maxetany in the County 
of Berks and State of Pennsylvania Yeoman, of 
the one part and Philip iNleyer of Kutztown in 
Maxetany aforesaid Weaver of the other Part, 
Whereas James (alias) Jacobus Delaplank Late 
of the Township of Oley in the ,said County of 
Berks, Yeoman in his life time was Lawfully 
Seized in his Demesne as of Fee, of and in a 
Certain Tract of Land Lying on a Branch of 
Schulkil! Called Saucony Situate and lying in 
the Township of Maxetany aforesaid. Adjoining 
Lands of Late Peter Wentz and other Contain- 
ing Five Hundred and Fourteen Acres, and be- 
ing so thereof Lawfully Seized Departed his life 
having first made his last Will and Testament 
in writing under his Hand and Seal bearing date 
the 2gth Day of May Anno Domini 1758 wherein 
and whereby he did give and devise the same in 
fee, unto his son Frederick Delablank in the 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



19 



Words following to wit, I give unto my son 
Frederick Delaplank the 514 acres of Land situate 
in Maxetany Township which I bought of Peter 
Wentz To him and his Heirs for Ever as in and 
by said receited last will and Testament duly 
Proved and Remaining in the Register Office at 
Reading in and for the County of Berks afore- 
said Recourse being thereunto had more fully 
appears And whereas the said Frederick Dela- 
plank being so thereof Lawfully Seized in his 
Demesne as of fee of and in said Tract of Land 
and Premises with the Appurtenances, wich was 
Seized and Taken in Execution by Jasper Scull 
Esquire High Sheriff of the said County of Berks 
in Pursuance of a Writ of Fieri Facias to him 
directed and by Virtue of a Writ of Vantitiony 
Exponas sold the said above mentioned Tract of 
514 acres of Land with the Appurtenances to 
Peter Rothermel his Heirs and Assigns in fee, 
as in and by said Sheriff Deed poll from under 
his hands and Seal Duly Executed and bearing 
date the Eleventh Day of May Anno Domini 1767 
and by him acknowledged in open Court of Com- 
mon Pleas at Reading in and for the County of 
Berks Recourse being thereunto had more fully 
and at Large appears. And whereas the said 
l-'cfer Rothermel and Sybilla his Wife by their 
Indenture from under their Hands and Seals duly 
Executed bearing date the Nineteenth Day of 
December, Anno Domini 1772, for the Considera- 
:ion wherein Mentioned Granted and Confirmed 
a Certain Mesuage or Tenement Plantation and 
Tract of Land situate and lying in the Township 
of Maxetany aforesaid bounded by lands of Jacob 
Teysher, Peter Beel, late Benedict Nudhnger and 
Jacob Kutz Containing One Hundred and Twenty 
Acres (being part of the above Mentioned 514 
Acres of Land) unto Jacob Sweyer his Heirs 
and Assigns in fee. as in and by said reccite'l 
Indenture Recorded in the Office for Recording 
of Deeds in Reading, in and for the County of 
Berks in Book B, Volume 1st, page 513 & 6, Re- 
course being thereunto had more fully appears, 
and whereas the said Jacob Sweyer and Elizabeth 
his Wife by their Indenture were Released from 
under their hands and Seals duly Executed bear- 
ing date the seventeenth Day of June Anno Dom- 
ini 1789 for the Consideration therein Mentioned 
did Grand and Confirm imto the said Leonard 
Rishel above mentioned (Partie hereto) his Heirs 
and Assigns in fee a Certain Piece or Tract 
of Land situate in the Township of Maxetany 
aforesaid bounded by lands of Jacob Teysher and 
others containing about ninety acres (being part 
of the said above Mentioned Tract of One hund- 
red and twenty Acres) as in and by said receited 
Indenture Remaining yet to be recorded Recourse 
being thereunto more fully and at Large appears. 
And now this Indenture Witnesseth that the said 
Leonerd Rishel for and in the Consideration of 
the Sum of Four Hundred Pounds Lawfull mony 
of the State aforesaid to him in hand well and 
Truly paid by the said Philip Meyer, at and be- 
fore the Ensealing and Delivery hereof the Re- 
ceipt whereof is hereby Acknowledged and where- 
of have Acquited and for Ever discharge the said 
Philip Meyer his Executors, Administrators and 
Assigns bv these Presents Have Granted Bar- 
gained Sold Released and Confirmed by these 
Presents do Grant Bargain Sell Release and Con- 
firm unto the said Philip Meyer his Heirs and 
Assigns in fee, all that certain Messuage or Tene- 
ment Piece or Tract of Land situate and lying 
in the Township of Maxetany aforesaid. Bound- 
ed and limetted as follows, to wit. Beginning at 
a post a corner in a line of Jacob Kutzes land 
thence extending by a land of Jacob Teysher 



south Seventy degrees west Eighty Six perches 
and one half a perch, to a post south Twenty 
degrees east eleven perches and a half a perch to 
a post a corner of Peter Reels land, thence by 
the same south Forty degrees east Forty two 
perches to a post a corner of said Leonerd Rishels 
land thence by the same North Seventy degrees 
east Thirty one perches and a half a perch to a 
post a corner in a line of said Jacob Kutzes land 
thence by the same North twenty Nine degrees 
West seventy Seven Perches to the place of the 
begmmg Containing thirty four Acres and Seven- 
teen perches (being part of the said last above 
mentioned Tract of about Ninety Acres ) Togeth- 
er will all and Singular the Buildings and Im- 
provements ways woods waters water courses 
Rights Lieberties Preveleges Hereditaments and 
Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or 
in any Wise appertaining and the reversions and 
remamters Rents Issues Profits thereof and also 
all the Estate Rights Title Interest Use Trust 
Benefit Possession Property Claim and Demand 
whatsoever both at Law and Equity or otherwise 
howsoever of him the said Leonerd Rishel and 
his Heirs of in and out of the Premises hereby 
granted and every part thereof, to have and to 
hold. Said above described Masuage and Tene- 
ment Pice or Tract of Land Hereditaments and 
Premises hereby Granted or mentioned to be 
Granted with the Appurtenances unto the said 
Phihp Meyer his Heirs and Assigns to the only 
Proper use benefit and behoof of him the said 
Philip Meyers his Heirs and Assigns for Ever, 
And the said Leonerd Rishel for himself his 
Heirs Executors and Administrators both Coven- 
ant Promise and Grant to and with the said 
Philip Meyers his Heirs and Assigns and every 
of them by these Presents that he the said Leon- 
erd Rishel and his Heirs the above described 
Masuage or Tenement or Piece or Tract of thirty 
four Acres and Seventeen perches of Land Here- 
ditaments and Premises hereby granted Meant 
Mentioned or Intended so to be with the Annur- 
tenances unto the said Philip Meyer his Heirs 
and Assigns Against him said Leonerd Rishe! 
and his Heirs and Against all and every other 
Person or Persons whomsoever Lawfully Claim- 
ing or to Claim the same by from or under him 
them or any of them Shall and will Warrant 
and for ever Defend, In Witness whereof the 
said parties to these Presents have hereunto in- 
terchangeably set their Hands and Seals dated 
the Day and Year first above written. 

LEONERD RISHEL (Seal) 
Sealed and Delivered 
In the Presents of Us 

Jonathan Kuts 

John Kuts, Jr. 

Received the day of the date of the above 
Written Indenture of the above named Philip 
Meyer the Just and full Sume of Four Hundred 
Pounds Lawfull mony in real Specie of the State 
of Pennsylvania it being the full Consideration 
for the above mentioned Premises Received for 
me 

LEONERD RISHEL 
Witnesses present at signing 

Jonathan Kuts 

John Kutz, Jr. 

Berks County SS : 

On the 14th day of June Anno Domini 1794 
Personaly Came before me the Subcriber One 
of. the Justices of the Peace in and for the said 
County of Berks the above Named Leonerd Rishel 



20 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



and Acknowledged the above Written Indenture 
to be his Act and Deed and desired that the 
same might be recorded as Such According to 
Law. Witness my hand and Seal the day and 
year above said. 

PHILIP GEEHR (Seal) 

Recorded in the Office for Recording of Deeds 
&c. at Reading Berks County in Book A Vol. 31 
page 354 &c. Witness my hand and Seal of said 
Office July 29th A. Dom. 1820. 

(Seal) of Recording Office. 



It may be added that another portion, 
130 acres, of these original 1000 acres 
patented by Peter Wentz, was conve\'ed by 
him in 1755— the year of the laying out of 
the Easton Road to George Kutz (Coots), 



who in 1779 laid out the town, naming it 
after himself, Cootstown. 

Were time available research among the 
records of this early time, preserved in the 
public offices in Philadelphia, (in which 
county Maxatawny then was) in the State 
Capitol, in the office of the Recorder at 
Reading, and among the deeds in the pos- 
session of other present holders of the lands, 
would reveal much of interest concerning 
the earliest settlers of this section, the dates 
of their arrival, and the location of their 
holdings. Some such information concern- 
ing a few of the more prominent of the 
first comers and their descendants is em- 
bodied in the following accounts of families 
still resident in this section. 




Pi:,EASANT View Stock Farm and Reservoir of the Kotztown Water Company 

(SITE OF HOME OF THE PIONEER, JACOB KUTZ) 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



21 



PROMINENT FAMILIES OF MAXATAWNY 



THE SIEGFRIED FAMILY 



Johannes Siegfried was one of the first, if not 
the first white settler in the vicinity of Kutztown. 
He and his good wife Elisabeth had taken up 
residence in Oley, where their daughter Cath- 
arine was born November 14, 1719. Some time 
prior to 1732 Johannes Siegfried and his family 
crossed the Oley Hills and settled on a large 
tract of land at what is now known E^s Siegfried's 
Dale. Here was born their daughter Mary Elisa- 
beth, who is said to have been the first white 
child born in the Maxatawny region. She was 
married to Johannes Rothermel and removed to 
Windsor Township. Prof. A. C. Rothermel, the 
principal of the Keystone State Normal School, 
is a direct descendant of Johannes Rothermel 
and Mary Elisabeth Siegfried. Some time before 
his death, which occurred in the spring of 1776, 
Johannes Siegfried divided the plantation between 
his two sons Joseph and John. Besides these 
two sons he had six daughters : Catharine, wife 
of Frederick Romig ; Susan, wife of Daniel Le- 
van ; Mary Elisabeth, wife of John Rothermel ; 
Magdalena, wife of Anthony Fischer : Anna, wife 
of Jacob Fischer, and Margareth, wife of Jacob 
Moss. Their home was the stopping place for 
Moravian Missionaries, who itinerated through 
Pennsylvania and adjoining colonies during the 
middle decades of the Eighteenth Century. The 
family were of the Mennonite faith. 

Catherine Siegfried, who was born in Oley in 
1 719 was married to her brother-in-law, Frederick 
Romig. They settled in Lynn Township and 
later removed to Macungie and there united with 
the Moravians. This union was blessed with 
twelve children. At the time of her death, Octo- 
ber 7, 1793, Mrs. Romig was survived by one 
hundred and five grand-children and ten great- 
grand-children. The wife of the writer is a 
lineal descendant of hers. 

Joseph, son of Johannes Siegfried, was married 
to Anna Maria Romig, a daughter of John Adam 
Romig. He spent all his days on the homestead, 
which he received from his father. His home, 
like that of his father, was a stopping place for 
the Moravian missionaries and officials on their 
journeys through Maxatawny to Tulpehocken, 
Lebanon, Litiz, Lancaster, York, etc. Shortly 
before his death, which occurred September 3, 
1795. he was received into the fellowshin of the 
Moravian Brethren. The following obituary ap- 
pears on the Moravian Congregation record at 
Emaus : 

"Joseph Siegfried of Maxatawny was born 
February 2, 1727. His parents were Johannes 
and Elizabeth Siegfried, and were of Mennonite 
persuasion. On July 3rd, 1745, he entered into 
Holy wedlock with Anna Maria Romig. which 
state God blessed with 13 children, ("eight sons 
and five daughters, of whom six sons and two 
daughters survive), and with forty-eight grand- 
children, of whom seven are dead, and with three 
great-grand-children living. 



"His sainted parents already loved the Saviour 
and the Brethren (Moravians) who in former 
years lodged in their home. And he too was a 
good friend to the Brethren ; and loved our doc- 
trine of Salvation in Jesus Christ. He truly saw 
that, as a sinner, his greatest need was to be 
cleansed of his sins by the Blood of Christ in 
Holy Baptism. He often felt a summons in his 
heart, and desired to be a sharer in this Grace, 
but never brought it to a firm resolution. He 
postponed it from time to time. During his last 
illness, having had a stroke in the previous year, 
from which he never fully recovered, this hung 
more heavily upon his heart ; and he was at his 
earnest request and desire, cleansed of his sins 
by the washing of the holy baptism, by his bosom 
friend, Brother John Ettwein, who visited him 
and by Brother George Jungman of Bethlehem, 
in the presence of about thirty neople from the 
neighborhood. At which time he shed many tears, 
and all who were present, were inwardly moved 
by the holy feeling of the presence of God. 

"At the beginning of this month he was seized 
with convulsions and on the 3rd of September, 
1795, shortly before 10 o'clock in the forenoon, 
he expired. He reached the age of 74 years, 6 
months and a little over. On the Sth of Septem- 
ber 1795, at the noon hour, he was buried on 
the family burial ground in the presence of a 
large concourse of people. At which time George 
Miller preached the sermon on God's acre from 
the text, Psalm 25:10: "All the paths of the Lord 
are mercy and truth unto such as keep His cove- 
nant and His testimonies." 

Anna Maria Siegfried, nee Romig, the wife of 
Joseph Siegfried was born in Ittlingen near 
Heibron in the Palatinate June 12, 1724, and came 
with her parents to Pennsylvania, September 30, 
1732. Her parents were John Adam Romig and 
Agnes Marguerite Bernhardt. They were mar- 
ried in the year 1712 and resided at Ittlingen. 
John Adam Romig was the son of George Wendel 
Romich and his wife Marguerite Herner, and 
was born at Ruedenstein, in the Palatinate, Feb- 
ruary 3, 1689. To Joseph and Anna Maria Sieg- 
fried were born ten children, among whom were 
Catharine, Magdalena, Colonel John, Joseph, Hen- 
ry, Isaac, Abraham, Daniel. Joseph and Abraham 
removed to near Bath, Northampton county. 

To John Siegfried, Jr., the brother of Joseph, 
Sr., and his good wife Catharine were born six 
children : John, Jacob, Peter, Elisabeth, Margaret 
and Susanna. He died in 1776 and was buried 
on the family burial ground. 

Col. John Siegfried, the friend of Washington, 
was born in Siegfried's Dale, Maxatawnv Town- 
ship, November 27, 1745. He was married to 
Mary Levan, a daughter of Daniel Levan, on a 
license dated August 25, 1769. In the spring of 
1770 they removed to the east bank of the Lehigh 
River in Allen Township, Northampton County. 
Here he conducted a tavern and a ferry. On the 
tavern sign was inscribed this legend. "Enter- 



22 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



tainment for Man and Beast." This favorable 
location brought him into contact with many 
people and paved the way for his later popular- 
ity and fame. On July 4, 1776. he attended the 
meeting of the delegates of the Associated Bat- 
talions of the Pennsvlvania Militia, held at Lan- 
caster, as a major from the Third Battalion of 
Northampton County. He v.-as later appointed 
Colonel of the Third Battalion. When Washing- 
ton in 1776 was fleeing across New Jersey, after 
the disasterous campaign in and around New 
York, he sent the followirg letter to Col. Sieg- 
fried : 

"Headquarters, Bucks Co., Pa., Dec. 22, 1776. 
To Colonel John ciiegfried : 

Sir: The Council of Safety of this State, by 
their resolves of the 17th inst. empowered me 
to call out the militia of Northampton County 
to the assistance of the Continental army' under 
my command, that, by our joint endeavors, we 
may put a stop to the orogress of the enemy, who 
are making preparations to advance to Philadel- 
nhia, as soon as they cross the Delaware, either 
by boats, or on the ice. As I am unacquainted 
with names of the colonels of vour militia, T 
have taken the libertv to inclose you six letters, 
in which you will please to insert the names of 
the proper ofiFicers, and send them immediately 
to them, by persons in whom you can confide for 



their delivery. If there are not as mani' colonels 
as letters you may destroy the balance not want- 
ed. I most earnestly entreat those, who are so 
far lost to a love of their country : as to refuse 
to lend a hand to its support at this critical 
time, ihey may depend noon being treated as 
their baseness and want of public spirit will most 
justly deserve. 

I am sir, your most obedient servant, 

George Washington." 

Within two days after the issuing of the above 
call, a part of the Third Battalion was already 
in Philadelphia and were assigned to the com- 
mand of General Putnam. They took part in 
the Battle of Trenton which resulted in the 
capture of one thousand Hessians. In the Battle 
of Assunpink, often referred to as the second 
Battle of Trenton, lanuarv 2, 1777, Rev. John 
Rosbrough, the chaplain of Col. Siegfried's Bat- 
lalion, was killed. It was after being renulsed 
that the British General Howe said ; "I will bag 
the fox in the morning." The sequel is one of 
the best known incidents in American history. 
It was a cart of Siegfried's Battalion under Capt. 
Tohn Hays, that kept up the fires and threw up 
earthen works, while Washington and the rest of 
the army slipped away and defeated the Briti.sh 



THIS TABLET IS ERECTED 
BY THE 

PEOPLE OF NORTHAMPTON 

TO PERPETUATE THE MEMORY 
AND GLORIOUS SERVICES OF 

COLONEL JOHN SIEGFRIED 

' AND THE MEN WHO SERVED UNDER HIM 
IN THE NORTHAMPTON COUNTY MILITIA 
DURING THE 

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION 

PARTICIPATING IN THE BATTLES OF 
■lAS SUN PINK GERMAN TOWN 

'PRINCETON WHITE MARSH 

tBRANDYWINE MONMOUTH 
^' RED BANK 

AND AS FRONTIER: RANGERS 

AND TO COMMEMORATE 
THE NOTABLE MEETING HELD AT GOL, SIEGFRIED'S 
I^O.ME JULY 29,1779 TO PREVENT THE 
"rECIATION of CONTINENTAL MONEY 

ALSO 
..RECOGNITION OF TH E PAT R.I O T I S M 
■THE PEOPLE OF OLD NORTHAMPTON 
6 MADE AND FORWARDED FROM THIS 
--. „.^CE MANY VOOLEN ■ BLANKETS AND 
STOCKINGS FOR USE OF THE ^SOLDIERS 
^ OF THE REVOLUTION 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



23 




Old Seigfried Homestead - Siegfried's Dai,e 




Siegfried's Dale— Famii^y Burial Ground 



24 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



forces at Princeton. Col. Siegfried subsequenty 
played an important role in the struggle for inde- 




3um 

) 71'^ \£'&'Sj£0 soldi ^ 
.c^rrgrftbr^rn'Sni'l? ffrP 
I 01o3jfm6rt-1793 

In MemoK/^F 
: \OHPi SieCFRIED 

' -wKo departed thisLJfeA'oi'frW 

f!,c27'M753 Aged ; 

4 S VeafS ancf I Mon-th . 




Tombstone of Colonel Siegfried 

pendence. On May 30, 1914. the people of North- 
ampton erected a monument to his memory in 



the Mennonite Cemetery, where his ashes re- 
pose, which monument bears a bronze tablet re- 
cording some of his services in the cause of 
freedom. 

In the spring of 1781 General Washington sent 
an officer to Easton to confer with Col. Siegfried, 
then sheriff of the county of Northampton, in 
reference to sending a quota of men to take part 
in the campaign against Yorktown. This extrava- 
gant continental officer spent 667 dollars in Eas- 
ton on this trip, according to the following bill: 

Easton, March 17th, 1781. 

To a nip of Toddy 10 dollars 

To Cash 8 dollars 

To Cash 12 dollars 

To I Grog 8 dollars 

To Washington 49 dollars 

To I Bowie of Punch 30 dollars 

To I Grog 8 dollars 

To I Bowie of Punch 30 dollars 

To 21 Ouarts of Oats 62 dollars 

To Hay 90 dollars 

To 12 Meal Victuals 260 dollars 

To Lodging 40 dollars 



667 dollars 
Received the contents of the above 

Jacob Off Innkeeper. 

Col. Siegfried shortly before his death, which 
occurred November 2y, 1793, together with Mich- 
ael Beaver and Abraham Levan, gave ground for 
school purposes. He was survived by his wife 
Mary and seven children, Daniel, Mary, married 
to John James ; Susan, married to Christian 
Hagenbuch; Catharine, Elisabeth, Jacob and 
Isaac. 



THE HOTTENSTEIN FAMILY 



Jacob Hottenstein, the scion of a Prankish 
family, came to Pennsylvania prior to 1727 and 
settled in Oley. On the 17th of November, 1729, 
he purchased from Casper Wistar, the brass but- 
ton maker of Philadelphia, one hundred and 
sixteen acres of land in "Maxhetawny" in the 
county of Philadelphia, for the sum of forty 
pounds and twelve shillings. This land, also the 
original deed, is still in possession of the fam- 
ily. The land then adjoined the lands of Nicholas 
Kutz and Peter Andrews. At the time Jacob 
Hottenstein and his good wife crossed the Oley 
Hills and settled in the beautiful Maxatawny Val- 
ley, they followed an Indian trail across the hills. 
Mr. Hottenstein added to the original tract until 
the whole plantation included 443 acres. (See 
"Release and Deed," p. 14.) 

Jacob Hottenstein was married to Dorothea 
Reber. This union was blessed with seven chil- 
dren : Jacob, William, David, Henry, Dorothy, 

Maria and . Tradition has it that the 

venerable missionary, the Rev. Henry Melchior 
Muhlenberg, frequently on his long journeys 
stopped with Jacob Hottenstein, and that he also 
on these visits instructed the children in the cate- 
chism. 

Jacob Hottenstein, his wife, and many of his 



descendants, were buried on the family burial 
ground, which may be seen from the road to the 
south from the barn on a slight elevation. His 
resting place is marked by a brown sandstone, 
which bears the following inscription, almost 
obliterated lay the elements : 

"Jacob Hottenstein wurde geboren auf den 
18. Februar 1697. Gestorben den 23. Mertz 
1753. btammvater den ganzen Hottenstein 
Familie. Alt worden s6 lahre, i Monate und 
5 Tage." 

David Hottenstein, son of Jacob, Sr., ob- 
tained the old homestead. He was the father of 
five children : Jacob, David, Daniel, Dorothea and 
Catharine. His son, David, Jr., who succeeded 
him on the old homestead, studied medicine with 
Dr. Joseph Hirsch and at the medical institute 
at Philadelphia. His practice extended far and 
wide and covered a period of more than half a 
century. He was married to Elizabeth Kline, a 
daughter of Richard Kline, of Montgomery coun- 
ty. He died in the year 1848, aged 82 years, 4 
months and 25 days. His issue consisted of six 
sons and two daughters, viz : David, Jacob, 
Daniel, William, Isaac, Henry, Catharine and 
Sarah. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



25 



HIS GRANDCHILDREN 

His son, David, died young ; also Henry. 

Jacob, his second son, had six sons, viz : David, 
Jacob, Isaac, James, Levi and Henry. 

Daniel's issue consisted of one son, Lewis K. 

William had eight children, viz : David H., 
Charles A., Robert, Henry, Edward, Caroline, 
Sallie A., and Matilda. 

Isaac's issue consisted of four sons and two 
daughters, viz : Percival, Cyrus, Frederic, Isaac, 
Matilda and Margaret. 

Sarah was married to Jonas Trexler, of Long- 
swamp, Berks county, and is the mother of eleven 
children, viz: Eden, Willoughby, Jonas, Abiel, 
Peter, David, Angeline, Sarah, Catharine, Eliza 
and Amelia. 

Dorothea died young. 

HIS GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN — GRANDCHILDREN OF 
JACOB 

David's issue : Catharine, married to A. B. Man- 
derbach, of Kutztown. Now dead. 

Jacob — No issue. 

Isaac's issue — Mary, married to Dr. Yorgey, of 
Pottstown ; Frank, James and Charles. 



Robert and Henry died young. 

Dr. Edward's grandchildren are: Mrs. Ray- 
mond Evans, Akron, Ohio ; William Hottenstein, 
Akron, Ohio; Howard V. Hottenstein, Akron, 
Ohio; Myrl F. Hottenstein, Kutztown; Edward 
S., Philadelphia, Pa. ; David F., Philadelphia, Pa. ; 
Anna Marguerite, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Kathryn B., 
Philadelphia, Pa. ; Mrs. Ira Fenstermacher, Leb- 
anon, Pa. ; Mrs. Milton Phillips, Chapman, Pa. ; 
Dr. Francis DeLong, Annondale, Butler County, 
Pa. ; Beulah DeLong, Bowers, Pa. ; Mrs. William 
Baver, Philadelphia, Pa. ; Mrs. Ed. Fidler, Wom- 
elsdorf, Paul DeLong, Bowers ; Raymond De- 
Long, Bowers. 

Caroline, married to Daniel Reber, has the fol- 
lowing children : Edward and J. William. 

Sallie A., married to John V. R. High, of In- 
diana. Issue : Isaac, Charles, John, Eddie, Caro- 
line, Sarah, Rosa (married to Z. T. Miller), Tillie 
and Bessie. 

Matilda, unmarried. 

It was at the Hottenstein dwelling that the 
neighboring settlers gathered at evening for 
safety and mutual protection during the period 



'- 






, 


«.«io*«i'«jtj^\3 




, 


.-m.^ 


i 


^fe 








^fe flili 1 




t<tlTT»«»Tli 


H Hq«« 


■■■-■■:,v^ 


w^ssi':f-- 


^ \.^l^-^' 


a UU-. 


f r s i ' 











First Hottenstein Homestead 
Erected near Kutztown in 1783 and at present occupied by Dr. A. C. L. Hottenstein 



James's issue : 

Levi's issue : Jacob, Charles, William. 

Henry's issue : Hettie E., Sallie, Ida, Jacob, 
Fanny. 

Daniel's grandchildren 

Lewis K.'s issue : Daniel Q., whose children 
are : Anna C, wife of Dr. Chas. A. Hottenstein, 
of Kutztown ; Lewis V., of Chicago, 111., and 
Elda L., wife of O. Raymond Grimley, of Kutz- 
town. 

grandchildren of WILLIAM 

David H.'s issue : William, Dr. Austin, Prof., 
John, Ezra, Mary (married to William Grim, of 
Bowers, now dead) and Ellen J. 

Mary's issue : John Grim, Lvons ; Mrs. Kate 
Reed, Lyons ; Dr. David S. Grim, Reading ; Prof. 
George A. Grim, Nazareth ; Annie Grim, deceased. 

Charles A.'s issue : Robert, Edward (living 
in Indiana). 

Edward's issue : Elmer K., Edward L., William 
T., Charles A., David P., Ida (married to James 
DeLong, of Bowers), Alice H. and Deborah C, 
wife of Rev. J. Frank Hersh, of Westminster, Md. 



of the Indian uprising. Tradition has it that the 
occupant of what has been for many years the 
Schaeffer homestead, tarried for awhile, caring 
for the horses and cattle after the rest of the 
family had made their way to the Hottenstein 
house for the night, and finding the night coming 
on and fearing to venture alone through the 
forest, he decided to remain in the log cabin 
for the night. From the cabin door he saw the 
flames of several burning barns. He loaded his 
trusty gun and watched and waited. Soon he 
saw several Indians approaching through the for- 
est, one of whom carried a torch. When they 
came near to the cabin he fired and saw one of 
the Indians drop, the others fleeing. He stayed 
all night in the cabin, fearing to venture out. 
The refugees at Hottenstein's had heard the shot 
and had surmised that he had been either 
killed or taken captive. Earlv the next morning 
he ventured out of the cabin to look for his vic- 
tim, but found only a pool of blood. ^ Evidently 
the comrades of the unfortunate red skin stealthi- 
ly returned during the night and carried the 
body away. 



26 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



THE LEVAN FAMILY 



The founder of this large and honored Ameri- 
can family was Daniel Levan and his wife, Mary 
Beau, of Amsterdam, Holland. The ancestral 
home of this staunch Huguenot (French Re- 
formed) family was Picardy in France, whence 
he fled to Amsterdam, where they were members 
of the Huguenot Church. In 1715 four of their 
sons, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, set out 
for the land of William Penn, of whom the last 
named died at sea. Abraham settled in Oley, 
Isaac in Exeter, and Jacob in Maxatawny town- 
ship, at what is now called Eaglepoint. The 
exact date of the latter's settling in Maxatawny 
is not definitely known, but it was before 1734, 
at which time he is recorded as having paid quit 
rent. Prior to 1740 he erected a grist mill and 
before it a saw mill. These two mills were the 
first of their kind in the Maxatawny valley. 



The Levan home was the stopping place for 
the Moravian missionaries on their journeys to 
the various German settlements in Pennsylvania 
and adjoining colonies and to the Indians, the 
most noted of whom were Count Zinzendorf, 
Bishop Augustus Gottlieb Spangenburg, Bishop 
John Christopher Frederich Cammerhoff and 
Reverend Leonard Schnell. 

In a letter dated November 17, 1747, by Cam- 
merhoff to Count Zinzendorf he says: "[Came 
in the] evening to Jacob Levan's in Maxatawny 
[Rev. Michael] Schlatter commanded by the 
Reformed Classis of Amsterdam has crept in 
here. He tried to preach then to raise £60 per 
annum for a Reformed clergyman solely." 

Rev. Leonard Schnell, who in 1743 made a 
missionary journey on foot to Georgia, frequently 
lodged with Jacob Levan. In one of his diaries 







Levan's Mhi,, Eagi,epoint— Exterior View 



Prior to the erection of the grist mill the settlers 
took their grain to Looseley's inill. In the front 
part of the mill the family hved until the massive 
mansion, in the style common in northern France, 
the ancestral home of the family, was built. On 
the inside lintel of the door leading into the great 
hall was carved 1740, the date of its erection. 
The building was razed in 1844. The cellar, con- 
taining a spring of water, was arched, the ma- 
sonry of the arch being so firm that it was only 
with difficulty that it could be demolished. 
What a pity that this splendid example of colo- 
nial architecture was destroyed. The hospitality 
of its owners was famed far and wide, and 
under its roof were entertained many noted men 
of the Colonial and Revolutionary periods. It 
was from the balcony of the mill that Count 
Zinzendorf, of the Moravian Church in America, 
preached to the settlers in the fall of 1742 and 
also that Rev. Michael Schlatter, the organizer of 
the Reform-'d Church and the first Superinten- 
dent of Public Instruction, preached to a large 
multitude of people, June 28, 1747. 



he incidentally mentions that Bishop Spangenberg 
was entertained by the Levan family. 

"January 15 [1747] journeyed [from West 
Oley] across Weydenthal to Maxatawny, where I 
made an appointment to preach at Jacob Miller's. 
He said that he had wished for this for quite 
some time. I stayed over night with Jacob Le- 
van, who told me much good concerning [Bishop 
Augustus Gottlieb] Spangenberg, who had lodged 
with him. I could not talk much to, but I could 
weep and pray for the six single persons in the 
house." 

"January 19 [1747] I preached with blessing 
in Jost Hinckle's house [in Allemangel] on the 
blessings of the Gospel. Then I, together with 
several others, went to Carl Volk's and at his 
request baptized a child. I still set out for Max- 
atawny and stayed over night with Jacob Levan. 
We had a talk concerning religion and faith." 

When in 1756, the period of the French and 
Indian War, the Indians began to make incur- 
sions in the county and massacred many of the 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



27 



settlers in Heidelberg and Albany townships in 
Berks county, and Lynn and Heidelberg town- 
ships in Lehigh countj', Jacob Levan was instru- 
mental in organizing a volunteer company to 
protect the settlers in Albany and Lynn town- 
ships, so the settlers "could plant their crops 
and repair their fences." It was called the Max- 
etani and Allenmaengle Freien Wacht Companie 
— the Maxatawny and Allenmaengle Independent 
Guard. It consisted of 24 men, who served 39 
days, from April 3 to May 11. The names, of 
these soldiers were : 

Johannes Hergereder, Captain 
Casper Schmick, Serg't George Jorgon 

Jacob Tholand Pavid Missenug 

Georg Bruner Solomon Bacher 

Fridrich Zirn Martin Unangst 

Johannes Klein f^arl Weinmueller 

Peter Muench Peter Kiem 

Adam Schnebely Georg Knir 

Conrad Batter Michael Kraul 

Micolaus Dehof Nicolaus Arnhold 

Henrich Schweitzer George Sauselin 

Conrad Frey Johannis N. 

Henrich Fullweiler Stephen Gross 

The captain was paid five shillings per day; 
the sergeant two shillings six pence ; and the 
privates sixteen pence. Six pence per day was 
allowed for rations, and a gill of rum, costing 
eight pence per quart, was served daily to each 
man. The total outlay was £104 114. 

The following is an itemized account : 

Dem Captain vor 39 tags, zu 5 Schill- 
ing t 9 IS 

Vor 20 mann 39 Tage jedem 52 

SchiUing Lohorung 52 o o 

Dem Sergeant jedem Tag 2 S. 6 . . . . 4 17 6 

Vor 2 mann nur 36 Tag zu 16 Pens 

des tages 4 16 

Vor I mann nur 20 Tag i 6 8 

Vor Kost geld jedem 6 Pens des 

Tages 23 15 o 

Vor jedem ein Tschill Rum des Tages 

8 p. die quart 3 ig 2 

20 Pfund Pulver zu 2 Schilling das 

Pfund 2 o o 

84 Pfund Bley zu 6 Pens das Pfund 220 

Summa der unkasten £104 11 14 

To meet this expense collections were made 
in the spring of 1756 amounting to £69 19 10, as 
officially published. 

Ausdem Township : 

Maxetawny £40 1 1 

Towamensing 10 10 11 

Solford ID o o 

Francony o 7 6 

Hetfield 4 11 o 

Worcester 8 3 4 

Upper Solford 7 13 3 

Albany in Berks Co 8 o o 

Nord Wales 6 8 10 

Upper Hanover o 14 o 

Die Summa der Einnahm £96 19 10 

Jacob Levan, who engaaed the men, advanced 
the deficiency of £7 i r 6. He, with David 
Schultze, was one of the trustees to receive and 
disburse the moneys. They rendered the above 
account, made a statement of the character of 
the work performed by the Guard, and asked 
for further contributions, on the T7th of Novem- 



ber, 1756, all of which was published in Sauer's 
Germantown paper of December 25, 1756. They 
said : 

"Also fehlen noch £7 11 6, welche summa 
Jacob Levan, weil er die Companie gedinp'en, 
bissher von seinem eigenem Geld hat zu setzen 
muessen, und auch verlieren muss, so nicht noch 
einige Freunde etwas beytragen. 

"Diese Wacht Comppnie ist die obgemelte Zeit 
sorgfaeltig in den Grentzen postirrt gewesen, um 
die Gegend von Albany Taunschip, in Bercks 
.County, und haben hiss weilen gestreifft hiss 
in Linn Taunschip, Northampton County; sonst 
aber sind sie sonderlich nachtzeit in Theil verteilt 
gewesen, so dass nur 3 Mann in einem Hauss 
oostiret waren, damit sie einen desto grosern 
Bezirck bewachen, und so viel mehr Leuten dienen 
konten, weil dazumal die Einwohner mit einern 
solchen vorlich nahmen, und es damit wagten, 
dass sie auf ihren Plaetzen aushilten und also die 
Sommer-Frucht aussaehen konten ; also aUch ihre 
Fensen repariren, woran die Companie auch selbst 
behilflich gewesen. 

Jacob Levan, 
David Schultze, 
Als Trusties. 
Maxetany, den 17 November, Anna 1756" 

The following extract from the diary of David 
Schultz, farmer, surveyor and conveyor, of New 
Goshenhoppen, Montgomery county, show that 
Jacob Levan and Sebastian Zimmerman present- 
ed a petition to the authorities at Philadelphia, 
and that apparently he was authorized by the 
colonial government to organize the company and 
to solicit funds for its maintenance : 

"Feb. 24, 1756. 

"This evening came here Jacob Levan and 
Bastian Zimmerman and framed a petition. Went 
to Philadelphia. 

"March 2 — ^Jacob Levan was at Christopher 
Shultz and I. Then circular letters sent about. 

"March 28 — Jacob Levan was at Mels S. 

"April 5— Again a guard of 15 men marched 
up to the scene 01 the Indian uprisings. 

"April 10— Went to Jacob Levan, Esq. 

"November 16— Went to Jacob Levan in Maxe- 
tawny." 

In 1758 Jacob Levan was commissionary for 
the following frontier posts : Peter Doll's Block- 
House, Fort Lehigh, Fort Allen, A Block House, 
and Fort Evert. 

Jacob Levan was appointed one of the justices 
of Berks County and continued to serve until 
the time of his death in 1763. 

In the fall of 1742 Count Zinzendorf preached 
at Jacob Levan's from the balcony of the old mill. 

Bishop Caramerhoff in a letter to Spengenberg 
dated Bethlehem, Sept. 27, 1747, states: 

"From Allemaengel [Lj'un township, Lehigh 
County,] we went down to A'laxatawnv and 
lodged with Jacob Levan, in whose house the 
Count [Zinzendorf] once preached." 
Additional Extracts from Schnell's Diarv: 

Fridaj', January 23 [1747].— To-day I together 
with Brother Gottshalk very reluctantly set out 
from Bethlehem. We slaved over night with 
Jacob Wens in Maxtawny, They showed them- 
selves very friendly toward us. 

Saturday, January 24 [1747].— To-day Jacob 
Wensh beseeched us to visit him frequently in 
the future. I like these two people. Things 



28 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OP KUTZTOWN 



were more agreeable here than when I was at 
Miller's place the last time. 

December 23rd [1749].— We [Schnell and 
Brandmiller] journeyed [on our return from 
Virginia] with difficulty on account of the ice, 
hut we safely crossed the Schuylkill [river] the 
Ontelaunee and came to Jacob jMiller in 

Maxatawny, who sold his plantation. 



DANIEL LEVAN 

In 1729 Daniel Levan followed his brethren 
to the new world and settled in Maxatawny 
not far from his brother Jacob and married 
Susan Seigfried, a daughter of Johannes Sieg- 
fried. He was an elder in the Maxatawny Re- 
formed Congregation in 1740 and gave land for 
a church and school house. He died in 1777, 
leaving a wife, Susan, nee SieP^fried, and chil- 
dren: Peter, Barbara (Reeser), Catharine, Mary 



SEBASTIAN LEVAN 

Sebastian Levan (1734-1794), the oldest son 
of Jacob Levan, succeeded his father both on 
the old homestead and in public affairs. He was 
married to Susanna Schneider, of Oley, and they 
together were widely known for their hospitality 
and kindness. On December 5, 1774, at a meet- 
ing held at Reading he was elected a member of 
the committee of observation and on January 2, 
of the year following was elected to the Pro- 
vincial Committee for the colony which met at 
Philadelphia January 23, 1775. He was colonel 
of the militia of the northeast section of the 
county and a member of the Committee of 
Safety, which, together with Baltzer Geehr, he 
represented at the convention of the associated 
militia, which met at Lancaster July 4, 1776. It 
was to him as a friend and an assemblyman 
that Rev. Christopher Schultz, a Schwenkfeldian 
minister, appealed in behalf of the members of 
his sect in a letter dated Coshehoppe (Goshen- 
hoppen), August 12, \^/^^, extract of which ap- 




Levan's Mii,Tv, Eaglepoint Interior View 



(Siegfried), Susan (Kemp), Magdalena, Mar- 
garet and Daniel Jr. The latter was admitted 
to the Berks County Bar in 1768 and obtained 
considerable prominence as an attorney. He held 
numerous positions of honor and trust during 
the Revolutionary period. He was one of the 
judges of the Court of Justice established under 
the Constitution of 1776. He served as treasurer 
of the county from 1779 to 1789, and as such 
had charge of the monies raised in the county 
for the militia; as sheriff of the county from 1777 
to 1779; as prothonotary from 1779 to 1789 and 
again in 1791 ; and as Clerk of Quarter Sessions 
from 1780 to 1791. 

The home of Daniel Levan, Sr., is located on 
Schultz's map and has been identified as what 
is now Kemp's Imi. During the Colonial and 
Revolutionary period it was known as Levan's, 
and under its roof were entertained many notables 
of that period. 



peared in the Pennsylvania German Magazine 
for November, 1910 : 

"I desire to talk with you as a member of a 
house that gives laws to the inhabitants of a 
once free land Pennsylvania and also forces those 
laws upon the said inhabitants with the power 
of arms, fines, imprisonment and exclusion from 
all the rights of citizenship without taking covui- 
sel of their consciences. The recent Test act 
and the treatment of innocent, conscientious peo- 
ple show us this. * * * You know quite well 
that Pennsylvania was originally the property of 
such people who have conscientious scruples about 
killing other people and are very careful not to 
allow themselves to be drawn into anything, into 
which they should not be quite sure that they 
could continue in the truth and hold out to the 
end and vou know also quite well that many of 
these people are still about and form a great 
nart of the most influential, best established and 
least offensive inhabitants. * * * Does it not 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



29 



become evident that you regard these as the most 
worthless offal, that you seek to tread them un- 
der foot and drive them from the country? If 
this is not so why is my friend (George Kriebel) 
in the Easton jail and comoelled to listen to the 
words, 'If you will not take the oath as we tell 
you, you can not leave this jail until your family 
is delivered to the enemy and your property 
a'"andoned?' Why do you rob us of all our 
rights of conscience and citizenship that nothing 
is to be ours, that we are to have no right to 
deal and move on God's earth, that we are not 
even to live, merely because we consider the 
oeace of our minds and souls, because we are 
not willing to bind ourselves by oath to things 
that we must regard in the highest sense doubt- 
ful, when we do not even know whether we can 
hold out. This is the highest offense in the whole 
matter that you expect things of us and impose 
at the risk of all that one holds dear in life, things 
that no tvrant, or Mohammedan or Turk, much 



row to see whether restraint may be secured 
from that quarter, for thus we can not live. 

* :!: ^ * 

"My dear friend, take this to mind for a quar- 
ter of an hour. You see one lying in his hidden 
chamber before his God confessing to the great 
Ruler the sins of himself and his people in burn- 
ing tears, imploring mercy and forbearance 
through the only Atoner and Mediator and plead- 
ing for the renewal and bettering of the hearts 
of all the people, who out of a sense of the 
love with which God loves all men and gives 
them life and breath, will not take the life of 
his fellow man. On the other hand you see one 
of our ordinary military gents, be he officer or pri- 
vate in his ordinary posture, as he is wont to show 
himself or as he executes his military duties. 
* * * I should like to know your conscientious 
judgment, which of these two is the better pro- 
tector of his land ? I believe that the former 
does as much by way of true protection as a 





Old Organ (Closed 
In possession of Jacob Levan, Eaglepoint 



Old Organ (Open) 
In possession of Jacob Levan, Eaglepoint 



less Christian government ever demanded, that 
one under present most passionate war is to 
renounce allegiance to a former lord before the 
matter is even decided. * * * 

"We are freeholders no more ; as witnesses 
we are no longer to be regarded : from our land 
we are not to depart until we are driven to Howe 
or into the wild sea ; any one may beat, scourge, 
mock, abuse us as Satan may prompt him, but 
we are to find no help or protection under the 
present government except that we are to be 
placed in secure imprisonment to perish. And 
all because we will not promise under oath or 
its equivalent what we do not know whether we 
are able to carry out and what we therefore 
cannot do without offence to conscience. * * * 
Even were I to lose my all, I would not be a par- 
taker in such unjust measures for ten such rich 
estates as yours. I shall go to Philadelphia toraor- 



whole battalion of the latter. I feel that I may 
tell you that protectors of the country like the 
former are yet to be found in oin" poor Penn- 
sylvania, who indeed may make little ado with 
their exercises, but whom God has placed on his 
rolls, whose tears he counts and saves. O, my 
Sebastian (Levan), guard yourself that you of- 
fend not these fathers and protectors of this 
country, as I fear you have done with some 
of your recent acts." 

From 1782 to 1784 he represented the county 
in the Executive Council of the State. Col. Levan 
died in 1794, leaving a widow and three chil- 
dren, John, Jacob and Margaret. 

JACOB LEVAN, JR. 

Jacob Levan, Jr., resided on a plantation of 
more than three hundred acres lying along the 



30 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Saucony Creek, southeast of Kutztown. The 
homestead is designated on Schultz's draft of 
the Easton Road. This tract was purchased from 
Jacob Wentz, of Worcester Township, Philadel- 
phia Countj', in 1753. Upon the death of Jacob 
Levan, St., the son Jacob became the owner 
and upon his death it was divided according 
to the conditions of the will between the two 
sons John and Jacob. The deed for the divided 
plantations bears the date of December 29th, 1797. 
In this deed mention is made of . the land set 
aside for church and school purposes, these being 
the onb' contemporary references to the old Max- 
atawny church thus far discovered they are quot- 
ed in full. After mentioning the number of acres 
to be divided this phrase is added. "Five acres 
and one hundred and six perches alloted for a 
meeting house excepted." 

In describing the boundary the following state- 
ments aopear: "To a corner of land whereon 
a house is erected destined for a place of public 
worship and to a stone, a corner of the land 
alloted for a school house of the above men- 
tioned place of worship." 

Tacob Levan, Jr., in his will provides for his 
wife Catharine and three sons, John, Jacob and 
Daniel, and a daughter Maria. 

DANIEL K. LEVAN 

Col. Daniel Rose Levan was born May 6, 1815, 
on the Levan's old homestead, the farm on Park 
avenue, now owned by James Treichler, whose 
wife is a Levan. He was the youngest of eight 



children, born to Jacob Levan, Esq., born Sept. 
7, 1769, and his wife Mary, nee Rose, born Sept. 
I3' '774- Col. Levau was married to Mary Levan, 
a daughter of John Levan and his wife Mary, 
nee Gore. He was educated in the old Academy 
at Milton, Lycoming county. After his father's 
death, December 3, 1849, he lived on the farm for 
many years, where the following seven children 
were born; the oldest, Allen A., Reading; Mar- 
garet Breneiser. Reading; Mary Alice Dotts, Phil- 
adelphia, and Thomas S., Kutztown. William E., 
IsaVella and Sarah Jane, died when young. From 
the farm. Col. Levan moved into one of the double 
houses built by his father, which are still in 
good condition, on the corner of Main and Green- 
wich streets, the building soon to be occupied by 
the post office, and the one occupied by the shoe 
store. Col. Levan was appointed a Lieutenant 
Colonel in the militia of this commonwealth by 
VAilliam F. Johnston, governor of Pennsylvania, 
in the year 1849. He was a member of the Re- 
formed Church. In politics, he was a staunch 
Republican, at one time a "Whig." He was con- 
sidered quite an authority in political affairs. He 
was a bright and prominent !Mason and Odd 
Fellow. Before the branch railroad was built to 
Kutztown, Col. Levan drove a passenger coach 
and carried the mail from Lyons Station to 
Kutztown. After the road was finished he con- 
ducted a similar route for many years from Kutz- 
town to Schnecksville. better known as the 
"Schnecksviller's Mail." Thos. S. Levan has in 
his possession many old and valuable relics at 
one time belonging to his grandfather Levan and 
great-grandfather Rose. 




THE WINK FAMILY 



Caspar Wink, a Roman Catholic, is said to have 
been torn in Manheim on the Rhine in the Pa- 
latinate. He was one of the first settlers in Max- 
atawny and lived at what is now known as the 
■\A'anner homestead. He was married to Ger- 
trude Kemp, a daughter of Jacob Kemp. They 
had six children: Catharine, born August 7, 17^8; 
Theobold, born February 10, 1733, married to 
Margretha Reed, of Goshenhoppen ; Anna Elisa- 
beth, born February 12, 1735, she was married 
to John Michael Christman ; Christianna, born 
March 21, 1737; Anna, Barbara, born September 
29, 17.^9, was married to Wilhelm Haintez, who 
came from Germany to America in 1751 and set- 
tled at Trexlertown ; John Peter, who was killed 
in the Revolutionary war, was born December 
27. 1745. 

Dewalt (Theobold) Wink was the father of 
the following children : Philip, John, Peter, Jacob 
(a Revolutionary soldier), Dewalt, Mrs. Isaac 
Roberts, Mrs. Jacob Levan, Mrs. John Heiden- 
reich, the mother of Judge Wm. S. Heidenreich, 
Mrs. John Hausman and Mrs. Daniel Kemp. 

Dewalt Wink, son of Davalt, the hat manufac- 
turer, was born in 1776 and was married to a 
daua-hter of George Pfister, also a Revolutionary 
soldier. This union was blessed with eleven 
sons and two daughters, among whom was the 
venerable historian, John G. Wink, of Normal 
Hill, Kutztown, who died December 23, 1901, at 
the rioe old age of 86 years, 9 months and 2 days. 
To his retentive memory and invaluable diary, 
from which extracts appear in this work, the 
present generation is indebted for many of the 



earlv traditions of the town and for valuable 
data. Father Wink was one of the first Sunday 
school superintendents of the Kutztown Sunday 
schools, at one time teacher of the high school, for 
many years a merchant, and is remembered by 
manv for his public spiritedness and kindness of 
heart. His son, John D. Wink, and daughter, 
Carrie, wife of T. M. Esser, carefully treasure 
their father's valuable diaries, interesting scrap 
books and important documents. Among the 
latter are two certifications of oaths of allegi- 
ance to the new government after the adoption 
of the Declaration of Independence and a com- 
bined shot and powder horn, carried by Jacob 
Wink in the Revolutionar}' army. 

Northamt'ton. ss: A^o. 266 

I DO hereby CERTIFY, That Casper Winck 
of Berks County, States of Pennsylvania, Hath 
voluntarily taken and subscribed the OATH of 
Allegiance and Fidelity, as directed by an ACT 
of General .Assembly of Pennsylvania, passed the 
13th day of June, A. D. 1777. Witness my hand 
and seal, the 26 day of May. A. D. 1778. 
(Seal) Peter Trexlcr, Bsqu. 

I DO hereby CERTIFY, That Dcwold Winck 
in jNIaxtawny Township, Hath voluntarily taken 
and subscribed the oath of Alle.giance and Fideli- 
ay, as directed by an ACT of General .Assembly 
of Pennsylvania, passed the 1,3th day of June, 
A. D. 1777. Witness my hand and seal, the 3 
day of November, A. D. 7777. 

(Seal) Samuel Ely. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



31 



The following account of the death of Cas- 
per Wink is from the Mss. History of Casper 
Wink, by John G. Wink:— 

"On the day preceding the death of our 
great ancestor, Casper Wink, he visited the 
grave of his deceased partner in life. On 
his return to the house he told the family 
that the time of his Final departure had come, 
and 'that he would die before another morn- 
ing sun should cast its beams on the horizon.' 
And he gave them directions in regards to 
his funeral. His coffin was to be painted 
black with a cross (t) on top of the lid; 
and that the Catholic Pries [from Bally] 
should officiate, he being a Catholic and 
wished to be buried by the side of his be- 
loved wife [Gertrude Kemp]. And ere the 



dawn of the morning his Soul had departed 
to the Spirit land. 

"He lived to the great age of 96 years 
and had never been sick in all his long life. 
His request was strictly complied with. 
Their ashes repose side by side on the side 
of the hill on the farm, a short distance 
a';ove the present barn. A few rude stones 
marked their graves. Some thirty years ago 
[1851] I visited the place of their repose 
a few (5) years ago [1876], but could not 
ascertain their graves any more, the head 
stones having probably sunk into the ground. 

"There were many Indians in the neigh- 
borhood at that time who were always upon 
good terms with my ancestors and who al- 
ways received kind treatment in return." 



OTHER PROMINENT FAMILIES 



SCHAEFFER FAMILY 

The descendants of George Schaeffer, who 
qualified at Philadelphia August 3, 1750, have 
been vitally identified with the history and de- 
velopment of Kutztown. George Schaeffer was 
a personal friend of Rev. Philip Jacob Michael, 
who baptized and stood sponsor for his son, 
Philip. He was an elder in DeLong's Reformed 
congregation at Bowers, and with his pastor, 
the Rev. Michael, enlisted in the American cause, 
the former as chaplain and the latter as second 
lieutenant. He was married to Catharine Riel 
(Ruehl) a daughter of Johannes Ruehl. They 
had issue : Elisabeth, married to John Bieber : 
Margaret, married to Dewalt Bieber ; Maria, 
married to Michael Christman ; Peter, who re- 
moved to Montgomery county, and Philip, who 
obtained the old homestead, about two and a half 
miles south-west of Kutztown. 

Philip Schaeffer, as a young man, assisted in 
hauling logs from Port CHnton to Kutztown for 
the building of the church in 1790. He invented 
and manufactured the first horse power and 
threshing machine in Berks county. To him and 
his wife, Elisabeth, a daughter of Peter and 
Susanna (Seitz) Fetterolf, ?nd a granddaughter 
of Peter and Anna Maria (Rothermel) Fetterolf, 
were born twelve children: George, Peter, Isaac, 
Jonathan, Daniel, William, Philin, David. Sarah, 
married to Jacob DeLong; Elisabeth, married to 
Solomon Yoder : Anna, married to Isaac Merkel, 
and Esther, married to Francis DeLong. 

David Schaeffer, son of Philip, was married in 
1848 to Esther Anna, a daughter of Solomon 
and Elisabeth (Bieber) Christ and the following 
year removed to the farm in Maxatawny now 
in possession of his son, James. He was one of 
the promoters of the Normal School and served 
on the board of trustees until the time of his 
death. In addition to James already mentioned 
he was the father of four sons: Rev. Nathan C. 
Schaeffer, D. D., LL.D., since 189,3 Superinten- 
dent of Public Instruction of Pennsylvania; Rev. 
William C. Schaeffer, D. D.. professor of New 
Testament Science in the Eastern Theological 
Seminary of the Reformed Church ; D. Nicholas, 
a prominent member of the Berks County Bar, 
and Charles D. Schaeffer, head surgeon of the 
Allentown hospital. 



SHARADIN FAMILY 

Jacob Sharadin (name variously written Shera- 
din, Gerradine, Cheretin, Jiradin ) was of Hugue- 
not (French Reformed) extraction. He came to 
Pennsylvania September 15, 1748, and settled a 
few miles south of Kutztown. Many of his de- 
scendants have had an active part in the develop- 
ment of Kutztown. 

His son, Jacob, according to the inscription on 
his tombstone at Bowers, was born at Rauweilen, 
in Europe, in 1735, and died in 1820. He was 
married June 15, 1758, to Margretta Haag, a 
daughter of Andrew and Anna Amigunda Haag; 
she was born February 5, 1735, and died No- 
vember I, 1835. They had issue ; Maria C, mar- 
ried to Daniel Hoch ; Jacob, Peter, Abraham, 
Daniel, Susanna, married to Nicholas Kutz, and 
Justina, married to Casper Schmick. 

Jacob, grandson of the immigrant, was born 
January 28, 1761, and died January 9, 1822. He 
has been prosperous and resided on the old home- 
stead. His children were: Elizabeth, married to 
Geor.ee Kemp ; Sarah, married to Absalom Beid- 
ler; David, married to Mary Magdalena Wanner, 
a daughter of Col. Tohn Wanner ; Katherine, 
married to Jonathan Grim ; Reuben, married to 
Katherine Biehl ; Nathan, married to Rebecca Es- 
ser; Jacob, Polly, married to David Fister. 



BIEBER FAMILY. 

Dewalt Bieber, his two brothers, John and 
George, and a son, Dewalt, left the fatherland 
and came to Pennsylvania in 1742. They settled 
on a tract of land near Valley Forge. John, the 
brother, is said to have lost his life in the Ameri- 
can army during the campaign of 1777-78. His 
son, John, removed to Maxatawny about 1770: his 
descendants are many, among them the late mer- 
chant, Walter Bieber, and Captain Bieber. De- 
walt (October 26, 1729 — January 26, 1808), son 
of Dewalt, was married lanuary 24, 17SO, to 
Sybilla Steinbunner, which union was blessed 
with ten sons and two daughters. He was known 
as the "Barra Bieber," because he fought with 
and killed a bear which had attacked him on his 
farm one evening. He was famed for his 
strength and is said to have been able to lift a 
barrel of cider and drink from the bung hole. 



32 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



33 



During the Revolutionary War, a baggage train 
halted on his plantation. The soldiers, accord- 
ing to a well preserved tradition, slept under the 
large oak tree still standing. It is also told that 
the women baked bread for the soldiers and that 
Mr. Bieber furnished them with cider. 

Jonathan Bieber, a grardscn of ' ewa't, was 
for a period of twelve years postmaster of Kutz- 
town. He was an ardent Republican and fre- 
ciuenllv reoresented bis district in conventions. 
His son, Jonathan, who owned the old homestead, 
was known as the Milk Bieber, because he con- 
ducted the first and, for a long time, the only milk 
route in Kutztown. He was married to Brieetta 
Schwoyer. To them were born the following 
children: Clara, Rev. Milton, Dr. Ulysses S. G., 
Robert S., Anna and Jonathan. 



BALTZER GEEHR 

Baltzer Geehr, son of Conrad Geehr, was born 
in Germantown, Pa., January 22, 1740. As a 
young man he removed to Oley township, Berks 



In 1796 he removed from Bern township to 
a plantation east of Kutztown, known as the \Vm. 
F. Stimmel farm. Here he died in 1801 and was 
buried on the familv burial plot near the center 
of the farm. The headstones on his and his wife's 
graves are still standing. On the stone his name 
is spelled correctly — Balthaser. 

FISTER FAMILY 

The late Col. Thomas D. Fister was one of 
Kutztown's most widely known sons : was born 
October 25, 1838. His parents were David and 
Mary Scharadin Fister. He was educated in the 
local public schools, Elrawood Institute, Norris- 
town, and in 1855 matriculated in the United 
States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. 
He was graduated in 1859 and appointed by 
President James Buchanan a Lieutenant in the 
United States marine revenue service. 

In the early seventies he removed from Ala- 
bama to what is known as the Fister Home on 
Normal Hill. Here in true southern fashion and 
hospitahty he lived the life of a country gentle- 







J,:i?^.'*i' 



■-^^^^4isil 



Gr.wes of Mr. and Mrs. Balthaser Geehr 
On the William F. Stimmel Farm 



county, where he is recorded in 1767 as being em- 
ployed as a gunsmith and where he married 
Catharine Hunter, a daughter of Anthony Hunt- 
er, and a sister of Col. IDaniel Hunter, of Revo- 
lutionary fame. In 1772 he removed to a planta- 
tion of five hundred acres in Bern township, 
which he had acquired the previous 3'ear. He 
was one of the leaders of the northern part of 
Berks county during the Revolutionary War, 
serving on the following committees : Committee 
for the Guidance of Public Sentiment, 1774: Com- 
mittee of Observation, 1775: Delegate to the Pro- 
vincial Convention, 177,=;; Delegate to Colonels 
of the Associated Battalions, 177=;; Committee 
of Safety, 1776. In 1775 and 1776 he was Lieut.- 
Col. of the Fourth Battalion of the Associated 
Militia ; in September of the later year his bat- 
talion participated in the campaign about New 
York. He officiated as one of the judges of 
the county from t77.'5 to 1784, was a member of 
the State Assembly for the years 178?, 1786. 
and from 1792 to 1799- In 1776 he was elected 
a member of Council of Censors. 



man. Under his roof were entertained among 
many other notables, Horace Greeley, Gen. John 

B. Gordon, U. S. Senator Ramsey, Judge David 

C. Humphreys of the United States Court of 
the District of Columbia, Gov. Robert E. Pat- 
tison. Gov. John F. Hartranft, and Gov. John G. 
Harmon, of Ohio. He was prominently identi- 
fied with the Democratic party and during Cleve- 
land's administration served rs suoervising archi- 
tect of the United States Treasury. He was 
identified with a number of local industries, was 
nresident of the board of the stockholders of the 
Keystone Normal School ?rd served on its board 
of trustees for many years. 

To him and his wife, Tnlia F. Swan, a south- 
ern lady of cultur° and refinement, were born 
three daughters : Mary, the wife of Rev. James 
Beattes, St. Paul, Minn. ; Maggie, the wife of Rev. 
r'harles P. Weiskotten, Milwaukee, Wis., and 
Linda, the wife of Rev. H. J. F. Seneker, of 
Pottstown, Pa. Col. Fister died at St. Paul, 
Minn., on April 22, igi.S. and his remains were 
buried on the cemetery along side of hi.5 beloved 



34 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



wife, who preceded him in death about eight 
years. 

The p-reat-grandfather of Col. Thomas D. Fis- 
ter was Dorst Fister, a native of German^'. His 
son, George Adam, was married to Anna Mar- 
grietha Fisher. Their son, David, was born June 
ig, 1802, and died October 8, 1871.^ He took an 
active part in the Buchanan campaign, served as 
Prothonotary of Berks county, and was at the 
time of his death Chief Burgess of Kutztown. 



KEMP FAMILY 

Dewalt (Theobolt) Kemp is said to have come 
to America cir. 1720, and to have been a native 
of Strassburg on the Rhine. He was not only 
one of the first settlers in Maxatawny, but in 
point of years probably the oldest settler. He 
was born about 1685 and died in 1760. His 
daughter, Gertrude, was married to Casper Wink. 
Their first child, Catharine, was born in Maxa- 
tawny August 7, 1728. 

The home now owned by Nathan Kemp passed 
at the time of the death of the immigrant to 
his son, George, whose wife's maiden name was 
Levan. Among their children were two sons, 
George and Daniel. George Kemp had a female 
slave named Hannah. This is the only incident 
of slavery in the early history of Maxatawny. 
Upon her death she was buried in the private 
cemetery of the Kemps. To George Kemp, son 
of George, and his wife (nee Griesemer) were 
born five children : John, William, Annie, mar- 
ried to Daniel Siegfried ; Sallie, marred to Daniel 
Kemp, and George. 

Daniel Kemp, son of George and gra«dson of 
Dewalt. was married to Rachel Wink. They had 
issue : Sallie. Dewalt, Jacob, Daniel, Isaac, George 
and William. 



DEYSHER FAMILY 

One of the first settler to the west of what is 
now Kutztown was Jacob Teysher. He was born 
in the fatherland in 1731 and came to America 
with his parents, Johannes Teysher and his wife 
Barbara (nee Siegfried). There were five more 
children in the family. Tradition has it that Jo- 
hannes Teysher was a French Huguenot, and that 
he left France at the earnest solicitation of his 
friends, upon having "shot off the head of an 
image at a Roman Catholic shrine in preference 
to showing reverence to it." 

ABSTRACT OF DEED 

Deed Book Vol. 21, Page 104, as recorded at 
Reading, Pa. 

"Whereas in pursuance of a warrant bearing 
date 1733 Dec. 13 — was surveyed 1740, May 11, 
for the use of the former Proprietaries of Penn- 
sylvania, a certain tract called the "Moselem 
Flatts situated in Maxatawny and Richmond 
Townships containing 2,990 acres and the usual 
allowance for roads. — And whereas it appears 
that the particular lot distinguished in the general 
draft of the survey and division aforesaid by the 
number of 8 has been settled on and improved 
by Jacob Teysher late of Maxatawnv township, 
yeoman, deceased, the father of him the said 
Tohn Teysher and the said Jacob Teysher in his 
lifetime contracted and agreed to purchase the 
aforesaid tract of land and paid the sum of 2,003 
£ 6 shillings and 10 pence unto Edmund Physich 
and unto the said John R. Coots for the use of 
his said constituents the sum of 249 £ 18 shillings 
and 9 pence inpart of the purchase money and 
interest agreed for the said lot and the said 



Jacob Teysher being paid and entitled to the 
aforesaid lot by his last Will and Testament 
bearing date 1803 Dec. 20 devised the same unto 
the said John Teysher in fee — and where as the 
afore said tract ivas lately resurveycd bj^ Reading 
Howell of the city of Philadelphia, Pa., and di- 
vided into 38 district Plantations numbering from 
I to 38 — "All that aforesaid tract — Beginning at 
a stake in the middle of a road thence extend- 
ing by lot No. S3, No. 30 and No. j6 South 59 
degrees and 20 minutes West 209 6-10 perches 
to a stone thence by Abraham Biehl's lot No. 7 
North 25 degrees West 145 3-10 perches to a 
stake thence bj' the Manor line North 64 degrees 
and 8 minutes East 212 4-10 perches to a stone 
thence by the middle of the said road South 23% 
degrees East 128 2-10 perches to the place of 
beginning. — Containing 179 acres and 67 perches 
strict measure." 

The will of Jacob Deysher was probated Janu- 
ary 6, 1804. He had issue ; Magdalena, Daniel, 
Esther, Deborah, Jacob, married to Catharine 
Rothermel and settled near Fleetwood; John, 
who obtained the old homestead and was mar- 
ried to a daughter of Colonel John Lesher, of 
Revolutionarj' fame ; Maria and Peter. 

John Deysher purchased from George Kutz 
in 1795 lots numbered 60 and 63, and from John 
Stoudt and his wife, Margaret, innkeeoer of .Ami- 
ty township, lots numbered 47 and 49. Ever since 
the la.ving out of the town the Deyshers and 
their descendants have been vitally identified 
with the development of Kutztown. 



SEBASTIAN ZIMMERMAN 

Sebastian Zimmerman, whose plantation is 
designated on Schultz's map of the Easton Road, 
was probably a son of Abraham Zimmerman, 
whose name appears in the fax list of 1734. He 
was a close friend of Jacob Levan, whom he suc- 
ceeded as a colonial justice, and whom, accord- 
ing to Schultz's diary, he accomoanied to Phila- 
delphia at the time of the Indian uprisings to 
petition for relief. Ex-Prothonotary Eldridge 
Zimmerman, a descendant, owns the old home- 
stead. It was here that the Moravian missionary, 
Leonard Schnell, preached to an apnarent un- 
responsive audience and made the foUowins' en- 
try in his diary : 

"March 6 [1746] I preached in Maxatawny at 
fSe] Bastian Zimmerman's on the text Romans 
4:5. I preached with great difficultv: it appeared 
to me as if there was no hungary sinner there. 
I set out for Elsass (Alsace) but because I 
could not reach it I staj'ed overnight with a man 
whose name is Beutelman." 



DIETRICH FAMILY 

The name "Dietrich" is almost "Legion" in this 
section of Berks county and in this brief sketch 
we must confine ourselves to those of the family 
who have become identified with Kutztown. The 
Dietrichs hail from the German Palatinate. Of 
those identified with Kutztown we mention : 

Lewis K., born in 1847 and residing in town 
for many years. He is a bricklayer by trade and 
a contractor. He is an excellent workman and 
thoroughly understands his trade. 

lonathan C, a son of the late Daniel Dietrich, 
who was born at Dietrich's Mill, Greenwich town- 
ship, in 1852. For a number of vears he was en- 
gaged in the creamery and ice business, became 
chief bookkeeper of the Keystone Shoe Manu- 
facturing Company, Deputy Controller, clerk in 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



35 



one of the departments of our county offices, and 
is at the present time assistant postmaster of 
Kutztown. 

Lawson G., although not living- in town but 
is identified with a number of our industries, to 
which he devotes a good portion of his time. 
He was born in May, 1864. His parents were 
Mr. and Mrs. James H. Dietrich. He received 
his training at the Keystone State Normal School, 
is engaged on a large scale in farming, follows 
the occupation of surveyor, has taught a num- 
ber of years, and was elected two years ago to 
the office of Clerk of Quarter Sessions, which 
office he fills very acceptably. He is a man of 
sound judgment and many excellent qualities 
He resides on his farm in Richmond township. 

Charles H. He was born in Greenwich from 
Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Dietrich July, 1838. He 
was engaged in the store business, driver, travel- 
ing salesman for hat establishment, solicitor for 
the Kutztown papers, and a general all around 
useful man. His children, Chester W., living in 
Davenport, Iowa, is a graduate of civil and 
mining engineering ; Walter S., is head clerk of 
the buying and selling department of the Kutz- 
town foundry, and Dr. Paul Henry, physician at 
Ashland, Wisconsin, in Dott's Laboratory. 

Harvey O., son of Jonathan P. Dietrich, and 
a graduate of our Normal School, was born and 
raised near Grimsville Church. He graduated 
from the Keystone Normal School and Bu;knell 
University. He held the position of principal of 
the Fleetwood schools and is now supervising 
principal of the Curwensville Schools. He is 
married to the only daughter of our worthy 
townsman, Benj. M. Deibert. 



KUTZ FAMILY 

Kutztown derived its name from the Kutzes. 
It therefore goes without saying that the Kutzes 
must have been here prior to the founding of the 
place. So they were. Jacob Kutz, a native of 
Switzerland, emigrated to America on the ship 
"Pink Plaisance" in the year 17.32, at the age 
of 58. He settled in Maxatawnv township, on 
the tract now known as the Stock Farm and of 
which the Kutztown Fair Association owns a 
rart. He had a son, Jacob, 2d, who married 
rhristira Boss'rt (Buzzard on her tombstone in 
the old burial ground of the Union Church). They 
had sons and daughters, ."^mons them we find 
Jacob, 3d, who was married to Susanna Geehr. 
He was born in 1770 and died in 1835. Of their 
children a few need mention as the immediate an- 
cestors of our present townspeople. They are 
Benjamin, born, 1806 and died 1874; David, Sam- 
uel, Toseph and several daughters. The first 
ram'-d, Benjamin, was the father of the late Wm. 
S. Kutz. who died at the old homestead on Nor- 
mal Hill in July, 1914. His son, Wilson B., and 
several children of another .=on, Harry, who died 
some years ago, are the only surviving relatives. 



Wilson B., is a member of the Historical Com- 
mittee of the Centennial Association and is noted 
for his remarkable memory of facts, scenes and 
incidents of the early history of the borough. 
His memory retains all the incidents that were at 
any time brought to his notice. He is a most 
useful member of the committee on this account. 

Mrs. lonathan Biehl, a daughter of Benjamin, 
still lives in her pleasant home on Normal Hill, 
just opposite the residence of her nephew, Wilson 
B, She has no descendants. 

Daniel B., a son of Benjamin, was born in 
July, 1828, died several years ago, some eighty 
odd years old. He was an exceedingly sprightly 
old man and in his 81 st year still served as Judge 
of Elections. His widow, whose maiden name 
was Louisa Kutz, still lives on Main street, at 
their old home. The only descendants of this 
family are the grandchildren, Salem Bock, hold- 
ing a very responsible position in the Kutztown 
Foundry, Mrs. Walter C. Snyder and Mrs. Milton 
G. Oswald. 

David Kutz, a brother to Benjamin, was for a 
number of years Associate Judge of Berks coun- 
ty. He resided on the farm from where the 
borough gets its water supply. One of his sons. 
Sell, who died a year ago, was a prominent citi- 
zen of the borough for many years. His only 
son Harry, is a leadine attorney in Nazareth, 
Northampton county. Charles Kutz, a son of 
Jacob Kutz, has lived for many years on a farm 
along Greenwich street. 



GRIM FAMILY 

One of the respected families of Kutztown is 
the Grim family. With the dawn of the 19th 
century Daniel Bertolet Grim, known later as 
Col. Daniel Grim, came into the world. He was 
born July 17, 1800. He became a tanner by 
trade. At the age of 24 years he bought over 
200 acres in Greenwich township, which soon 
became known as Grimsville after a hotel, store, 
tanner and distillery had been established. In 
August, 183.3, his son, Daniel P., was born there, 
who, after the retirement of his father, assumed 
the labor of managing the various industries of 
his father. After a strenuous life of about 40 
years Daniel^ P. came to Kutztown to pass the 
evening of his life in semi-retirement. He soon 
became one of the honored men of town and 
took interest in some of our industries. He was 
one of the founders of the Kutztown National 
Bank and served as director from its organiza- 
tion till the close of his life about a year ago. 
He reached the ripe old age of 80 years. His 
son, Daniel P., Jr., has been for a number of 
years a clerk in the bank. Two daughters, Annie 
C. and Emma, still reside at the old homestead 
on upper Main street, while a third, A. Elizabeth, 
is the wife of Ira P. Rothermel, attorney, and 
resides in Reading. 




36 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




Pretty Residentiai, Section in New Kutztown 
(Formerly Park Avenue) 




Handsome Homes on Upper Main Street 
(The stone house to the right is the remodeled First House Rrected In "Freetown") 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



37 



DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP 



Returning to the statement that Maxa- 
tawny was settled soon after 1732, the date 
of sale by the Indians of their lands, and 
to the evident improbability of that state- 
ment, as shown by the facts recited and 
oapers quoted, it becomes necessary to ex- 
plain how it was that the Indians sold their 
lands after the settlers had occupied them. 

The earliest settlers bought their lands 
from the proprietary government without 
any question as to whether the government 
had secured a clear title from the Indians. 
Securing their deeds or patents they occu- 
pied the land. The Indians, though friend- 
ly to the settlers, complained that the land 
thus bought by the settlers from the pro- 
orietaries had never been purchased by the 
latter from the Indians. D. B. Brunner 
("The Indians of Berks County," p. 15) 
says : 

"The settlers spread over the country 
with great rapidity and occupied the land. 
The Indians, seeing this, believed that the 
white peoole settled on land for which they 
[the Indians] had not been paid. The 
Kings who had gone to Molatton, thence 
to Philadelphia, to treat about the Cacoos- 
ing affray [the murder of three Indians 
early in May, 1828, by two white men] 
took occasion to visit the Provincial Coun- 
cil, June 5, 1728, and informed the Gover- 
nor that the English subjects were going 
beyond the limits of Penn's territory. The 
secretary produced a number of deeds, and 
convinced [ ?] them that none of their land 
was taken, whereupon they signed a release 
of 'all the land situated between the two 
rivers, Delaware and Susquehanna, from 
Duck Creek (in Delaware), to the moun- 
tains on this side of the Techay [Le- 
high].'^ 

" 'Sassoonan (Allumapees) said that the 
land beyond these bounds had never been 
oaid for, that they reached no further than 
a few miles beyond Oley, but that their 
lands en the Tulpehocken were seated by 
the Christians.' 

"'Mr. Logan, (the secretary), answered 
that he understood at the time that deed 
was drawn and ever since that the Lechay 
hills or mountains stretched away from a 
little below Lechay or forks of the Dela- 
ware to those hills on the Susquehanna that 
lie about ten miles above Paxton. Mr. 
Farmer said those hills passed from Lechay 
a few miles above Oley, and reached no 



further, End that Tulpehocken lands lie be- 
yond them.'^ 

"It was decided then that the Tulpehock- 
en lands belonged to the Indians. The com- 
missioners said that they authorized no one 
to settle there and seemed surprised [ ?] to 
learn that such was the fact. Sassoonan 
said that he could not beheve it himself 
that the Christians had settled on them, 
until he went there and saw their houses 
and fields." 

What is said here of Tulpehocken might, 
in all likelihood, have been said of the Max- 
atawny section. The proprietary govern- 
ment had no hesitation in issuing patents 
for lands lying no one knew exactly where, 
sold land to settlers beyond the limits of 
what had been fairly acquired of the Indians 
and only when the latter complained, ex- 
pressed feigned surprise at the boundaries 
having been crossed and then purchased 
from the Indians territory in which were 
included lands which these same wily and 
somewhat unscrupulous successors to Will- 
iam Penn had already sold to the first set- 
tlers. 

In addition to the leading families, al- 
ready treated, many others pressed into the 
settlement year after year. Of some of 
these descendants yet remain in the town- 
ship or the town. Names of others have 
entirely disappeared, the families having 
died out or their descendants moved away. 
On September 6, 1742, a petition was pre- 
sented to the Court of Quarter Sessions of 
Philadelphia county, praying for the erec- 
tion of a new township out of the said 
county. The survey of the tract of land 
for the said township was made by Esquire 
George Boone (likely George Boone, Jr., 
uncle to Daniel Boone, the Kentucky pion- 
eer) a draft of which was attached to the 
petition. William Parsons, surveyor gener- 
al of the Province, certified that the survey 
did not interfere with any other town- 
ship, the order for erection was made on 
the same day. The petition is apparently 
lost, but the following is a copy of the re- 
cord preserved in Philadelphia. 

"Upon the Petition of several of the In- 
habitants of the Countv of Philadelphia, 
situate at a place called Maxatawny, set- 
ting forth that they had been settled in that 
part of this County for several years and 
paid Taxes and County Levies, and that the 
said Place is now become very populous, 
praying this Court would be pleased to 



^Colonial Records, iii, 339 



^Colonial Records, iii, 340 



38 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



view and examine a Draught of a Tract of 
Land to the said I'etition annexed,_ and 
would erect the same into a Townshi)) by 
the foUowing Bounds, viz: Beginning in 
Bucks County Line and from thence run- 
ning South West one thousand seven hun- 
dred and sixty percnes ; thence North West 
one thousand three hundred and sixty perch- 
es; thence North Last one tliousand seven 
hundred and sixty perches to Bucks County 
Line ; thence along the same South East one 
thousand three hundred and sixty perches 
to the place of Beginning, containing four- 
teen thousand nine hundred and sixty Acres 
of Land. 

"The Court having taken the said peti- 
tion into consideration and the Surveyor- 
General of this province having certified to 
the Court that the sevei-al Courses and 
bounds of said Township petitioned for do 
not interfere with any other Township, The 
said Tract of Land bounded as aforesaid, 
containing fourteen thousand nine hundred 
and sixty Acres of Land, is now erected by 
this Court into a Township by the name oi 
Maxatawn}-." 

From the following list of taxables for 
the year 1759 some idea may be gained of 
the growth of the population of the town- 
ship. At that time 64 heads of famihes, 30 
"inmates" (probably "aliens, strangers, per- 
sons not properly belonging to the place 
where they dwell") and 14 single men. The 
amount of tax levied was Ijj. The col- 
lector was Andrew Hauck, (spelled "Hagh" 
in list, now generally "Haag.") The sums 
placed opposite the names are evidently the 
assessed valuation. 

Taxables 

£ 

John Bast 16 

Anthony Bennsinger 4 

George Bader 12 

Conrad Bader 1 1 

Teterich Bever 10 

John Bever 1 1 

Michael Bower .^ 

Peter Brown .=1 

Henrv Christ 13 

Michael Christian 14 

Frederick Delaplank 25 

Peter DeLong 1 1 

John DeLong 6 

Anthony Fisher 10 

William Grose 10 

Nicholas Harmony 16 

John Hartman 16 

John Hill i.S 

Henry Hagh n 

Andreas Hagh 20 

David Hiittenstein 23 

Conrad Henninger 13 

John Hargerader ifi 

Tulins Kerber 6 

Deobald Kempt 20 

Nicholas Kutz 10 

Thomas Kutz 10 



Caspar Killiara 

Derst Kersner 

Charles Korn 

Widow Kemp 

George Kutz 

Jacob Kutz 

J acob Kraul 

Philip Kraul 

Sebastian Levan 

Daniel Le\an 

Jacob Levan, Esq 

Henrv Luckenbill 

Conrad Alanesmith 

Nicholas Moffly 

Michael Ott 

Christopher Road 

George Sassamanhouse . . 
y\ndreas Sassamanhouse 
Henry Sassamanhouse . . 

Joseph Siegfried 

Baltzer Swenck 

John Siegfried 

Peter v^herer 

Jacob Sheradeen 

Paul Sheradenn 

George Sell 

Caspar Smith 

Nicholas Shoneaker 

Henrv Wetstone 

Dewa'ld Wink 

Richard Wistar 

Christian Wanner 

Abram Zimmerman 

Pastian Zimmerman . . . . 



Anthony Altman . . . 
George Breinig .... 

Jacob Bauer 

Christian Baum .... 

Daniel Dosser 

George Esser 

Andreas Hagh, Jr. . 

Tacob Moyer 

Daniel Ort 

Leonard Saul 

Christonher Slenker 

Martin Sea 

John Smals 

Peter Stutz 

Philip Hain 

Michael Henninger 

Tohn Huth 

Leonard Kern . . . . 
Tacob Kamerer .... 

Henry Lutz 

Tohn Miller 

David Musgenig . . . 
Jacob Sharadin . . . 
Christopher Urban . 

Geor~e Weser 

Tohn Weser 

Tacob Wildraut . . . 

Toseph Wild 

George Wild 

Peter Will 



4 

3 
10 
16 
17 
15 

9 
23 
2.i 
31 

9 
16 
10 

I 

7 

10 

7 
12 

2D 

21 
22 
14 

5 
12 

5 

2 

13 

19 

25 

5 

16 
23 



SINGLE MEN 



William Aldeman 
Geor~e Bader 
Tacob DeLong 
Georo-e Etzler 
Tosenh Gross 
Frederick Hauseman 
Michael Heit 



Jacob Kootz 
Conrad Metzger 
Peter Minch 
Philin Roth 
Georee Steinbrook 
Tacob Steinmal 
Michael Steinborn 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



39 



Early Roads 

As the population increased the want of 
roads, something better than the trails of 
the Indians, was felt. 

In 1736, at the June sessions of the Pro- 
vincial Court at Philadelphia "a petition 
was presented for a road from Jacob Le- 
van's Mill in Maxatawny, to the 'King's 
Highwa}^,' by John Yoder's fence in Oley." 
'I he court, granting the petition, appointed 
as viewers John High, John Yoder, Jr., 
Samuel Golden, Benjamin Langaworthy, 
iVbraham Ashman, and Thomas Ellis, all of 
Oley, by whom the road was laid out. "It 
is now called the 'Kutztown Road,' and ex- 
tends from Pleasantville, via of Lobachs- 
ville, and Stony Point to Kutztown." On 
the plan of the "Easton Road" (1755) 
this road is marked "New Maxatawny 
Road." An amusing story in connec- 
tion with this road, handed down by 
locally to accommodate certain young folks, 
matrimonially inclined, resident in the Oley 
and Maxatawny settlements, who found the 



lack of a fair road between the two places 
an impediment to their love making. The 
Yoders and Levans being prominent in 
Provincial affairs at this time possessed 
sufficient political influence to accomplish 
a project which, while ostensibly necessary 
as a public improvement, was a convenience 
to the younger members of the family. A 
considerable portion of this road is yet in 
use. Portions of it, however, have long 
since been abandoned. A stretch which is 
abandoned ran to the east of Kutztown 
near the line which now separates the farm 
of I)r lidward Hottenstein and that of the 
Nick's estate, now the property of Cyrus J. 
Rhode and John K. Deisher. Near it stood 
the Maxatawny Reformed church and the 
earliest school. Part of the road may yet be 
traced, sunken considerably below the 
level of the adjacent fields, between the rail- 
road and the driving road to Topton. Near 
the latter road is a thicket covering the site 
of the early graveyard in which a number 
of "the rude forefathers" of the vicinage 
sleep in unmarked graves. 



"THE GREAT ROAD"-OR EASTON ROAD 



The first lines of travel were, evidently, 
between the newer and the older settle- 
ments, between Maxatawny and Oley, as 
appears by the foregoing, and between those 
two settlements and Philadelphia, the seat 
of the government and the center of com- 
merce. As the number of settlers increased 
in the great valley — the East Penn Valley 
and the Lebanon Valley, as those two parts 
are now called — the need of better facilities 
lengthwise of the valley became more in- 
sistent. Prior to the middle of the i8th 
century a road, probably following an east 
and west Indian trail extended from the Le- 
high to the Schuylkill and thence to the Sus- 
quehanna. Over this road, doubtless a 
primitive one according to modern notions, 
yet a great improvement over the Indian 
trail, single travelers and companies of men 
and women passed. Among the lonely 
travelers of whom tradition or history 
SDeaks were Count Zinzendorf and other 
Moravian missionaries and ministers of 
other faiths, as Michael Schlatter, of the 
Reformed church, the first superintendent 
of schools, in a sense the official ancestor of 
the present Superintendent of Public In- 
struction of our State. Of the travels of 
these ecclesiastics and their visits to the 
early settlers in Maxatawny, detailed ac- 
counts may be read elsewhere in this vol- 
ume. (See histories of the churches.) 



In 1753, according to a Moravian diary, 
a company of Moravians, intent on found- 
ing a colony at Salem, North Carolina, 
passed this way over the road mentioned 
above. The little caravan, which started 
from Bethlehem on the morning of the 8th 
of October, passed through JMaxatawn^^ in 
the afternoon, probably, since the diary tells 
of their stopping at "Moselem mill" on the 
night of the 8th. They had at least one 
wagon, as is learned from the narrative. 
There were fifteen in the party, twelve 
colonists seeking the new home in the 
South, and three companions who, what- 
ever their original intentions were, soon 
afterwards returned from North Carolina. 
These three were "Brother Gottlob Koe- 
nigsderfer [a Moravian minister], Nathaniel 
Seidel [who later gained rank and fame 
as a bishop among the Moravians], and 
Joseph Haberland." An interesting inci- 
dent is told of their tarrying at "Moselem 
mill." Hearing of their arrival a neigh- 
boring settler, Huey by name, came to the 
mill and addressing one of the leaders in- 
quired of him whether he knew anything 
of the healing art. An inmate of his house- 
hold, he said, was seriously ill, and if there 
could be blood-letting there might be hope 
of his recovery. One of the Moravian lead- 
ers went with Huev and performed the de- 
sired operation, with what final result we 



40 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



are not told. Xext morning the caravan 
went on its way, crossing the "Tulpe- 
hocken," (possibly the Schuylkill at or near 
the Great Bend ) : From this narrative the 
conclusion is derived that ( i ) a road ran 
through the va'.lev in much the same gen- 
eral direction as the present highway; (2) 
that its course did not altogether coincide 
with that of the present road but. several 
miles west of Kutztown. turned to the right 
to ^loselem creek which, probably, it fol- 
lowed to the Ontelaunee, and thence to the 
Schuylkill : ( 3 I that it did not lead directly 
to Reading, although, possibly, it did con- 
nect with that town bv means of the "Mai- 
dencreek Road;"' and (4) that it was a 
road over which wagons could pass. 

This early road, however, did not long 
answer the rrowing necessities of the sett- 
lers. Consequently, in 1753. a petition 



the route taken through ;\Iaxatawny and 
Richmond townships and indicating cross- 
roads, tlie location of the homes of a niun- 
ber of settlers, and the distances in miles 
from Hasten. It will be noted that no 
house is marked as existing in 1755 in the 
territory now included in Kutztown. ( See 
"The First House." ) 

This road, known as the "Easton Road" 
( because its eastern tenvinus was at Eas- 
ton I, or as "The Great or High Road" (so 
given in early deeds), was calculated to be 
fifty miles in length from Easton to Read- 
ing, "but to count from the center of both 
the said towns fifty mi'.es and one-half." 
It entered Reading by what is now Eighth 
street. 

This "Easton Road." on its comoletion, 
constituted an iniDortait link in the chain 
of roads that connected "with the ancient 



BASTIAN XJMMECK1AN 




MAXA.T>W>/rs!Y 5EC'nON 

OF- 

The Easton Ecad 

From a draft made bv 
David ShuuTZ, Surveyor 

1755 



signed by thirty inhabitants of Berks and 
Xorthampton counties and headed by Con- 
rad Weiser was presented to the Governor 
and Council of Pennsylvania, asking for 
an order for the laying out of a road from 
Easton to Reading. 

The request was granted and the court 
appointed Francis Parvin, Jacob Levan, 
Benjamin Lightfoot, James Boone, Sebas- 
tian Zimmerman, and Joseph Penrose as 
viewers for Berks county, and William Par- 
sons, Peter Trexler, John Trexler, Timothy 
Horsefield, John Everat, and Ludwig Klutz 
as like executors of the judicial order for 
Xorthampton county, which, at that time, 
included what is now Lehigh countv. 

The road was surveyed and built. .\ 
map of it, drawn by David Shultze in 
October, 1755, may be seen at the rooms 
of the Historical Society of Pennsyl- 
vania, at 1300 Locust street, Philadel- 
phia. From this map is taken the accom- 
panying "^laxatawny Section," showing 



Alinnisink Road, whose outlet was Kings- 
ton on Hudson's River, and beyond, by a 
second chain of thoroughfares with the 
busy towns east, as far as ^lassachusetts 
Bay." 

In this year, 1755, June 16, according to 
a statement in ^Montgomery's "History of 
Berks County," (p. 855) there was con- 
veyed to Jacob Kutz. by Jacob \\'entz^ and 
his wife, Elizabeth, 130 acres in Maxatawny 
township, along the Saucony, the tract now 



'Jacob Kutz was a brother of Nicholas Kutz, 
who settled near Eaglepoint. The brothers were 
natives of Switzerland. The name was spelled 
Coots, at least by Englishmen. Nicholas Coots 
came to America in 1729, or earlier. Jacob seems 
to have arrived later, comin.^ (according to the 
"Historv' of Berks County," n. 1194) "on the shio 
'Pink Plaisance,' which oualified at Philadelphia 
in the fall of 1732." Where Tacob lived from 
1732 to I75.T is not known. It seems to have 
been his nephew, George Kutz, son of Nicholas, 
who laid out Kutztown in 1779 — spelled Coots- 
town until 1835. (See article on the postoffice.) 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



41 



known as Pleasant View Stock Farm, a part 

of a large tract of 550 acres which Jacob 
VVentz had inherited from his father Peter 
VVentz, the original patentee of i030 acres. 
The crossing of the Saucony, being mid- 
way between -Vllentown and Reading, was 
a propitious site for a town, and the set- 
tlement that grew up in this neighborhood 
soon become of importance on this great 
artery of travel . . . the through line 
from New York to Baltimore and the Caro- 
linas." Not much before the Revolution, 
perhaps, but certainly shortly before the 
beginning of that war, and during its con- 
tinuance this road was one of the noted 
highways of the State. Over it passed in 
that early time bodies of soldiers bound to 
or returning from the wars. Civilians of 
note traveled this once famous highway. 
Nevertheless, and strangely too, its im- 



which is probably correct for several rea- 
sons : ( I ) It is nearly half way between 
Allentown and Reading, a half day journey 
from Bethlehem ; ( 2 ) It is at the intersec- 
tion of the Easton Road and. the "New 
Maxatawney Road" from Oley to Levan's 
mill (Eagle Point. See map). The main 
part of the hotel, which is still standing, 
is said to have been erected in 1787. If 
this part was erected in 1787 it must have 
been preceded, in whole or in part by a 
still earlier structure, for "Levan's" is men- 
tioned as an inn on the Easton Road much 
earlier than that year. Montgomery says 
(old "History of Berks Co.," p. 1043) ■ 
"It was opened probably as early as 1740, 
by Daniel Levan, and since 1788 has be- 
longed to the Kemp family. George Kemp 
[he was son-in-law to Daniel Eevan] kept 
the tavern fifty-two years and was succeed- 




Kkmp's Hotel 



portance has not been recognized in the 
histories of Berks county. Strangest per- 
haps is the fact that no mention of this 
really historic road is made in the exhaus- 
tive "History of Travel in America" by 
Seymour Dunbar, published within the last 
few months. 

Along this highway, in order to accom- 
modate the increasing throngs of travelers, 
hostelries were erected. One of the first, 
if not the very first, was the tavern now 
known as Kemp's Hotel, just over the hill 
from the present eastern terminus of the 
borough of Kutztown. It was in all proba- 
bility not erected as a tavern, but was 
originally a farm-house opened to accom- 
modate the needs of travelers and was sub- 
sequently enlarged and made a road house. 
It is said to be the oldest hostelry in the 
eastern part of our county, a contention 



ed by his son, John Kemp. The legend on 
the present sign board gives the date as 
1765. For many years the 'Half-Way 
House' in Richmond township and this one 
were the only public-houses on the state 
road between Reading and Allentown. . . . 
It is a long stone building, and though 
large was often taxed to its uttermost to 
accommodate the many travelers who vis- 
ited or passed through that section before 
the era of railroads. Not only were all the 
sleeping rooms occupied, but the bar-room 
was frequently filled with sleeping team- 
sters and peddlers." 

As matters of interest in themselves and 
also as stimuli to further research the fol- 
lowing references to this road, which de- 
serves more of fame than it has received — 
and to this ancient road house — are here 
inserted, references which antiquarian re- 



42 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



search has unearthed since the former his- 
tory of our township and town was written. 

One of the earhest notices of "Levan's" 
is found in the diarv of a Airs. Ehzabeth 
Drinker, an Enghsh lady travehng through 
this valley in 1771. Under date of August 
29th she wrote: "We reached David Le- 
van's about dusk this evening." Then fol- 
lows an account of some unpelasant experi- 
ences of which the curious may read in the 
collections of the Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Continuing, 
she wrote: "With the assistance of our two 
servants we supped pretty well." August 
30. "... Her [the landlady's] hus- 
band is a rich farmer." 

The next notice that has come to light is 
in a record of a summer jaunt in 1773 taken 
bv a company of six or seven journeying 
in "chairs"' from Philadelphia to Bethle- 
hem and thence through our valley to Read- 
ing and Lancaster, and finally home to Phil- 
adelphia. The company consisted of "Mr. 
and Mrs. Mitchell ( Miss.= Kitty and Miss. 
Nancy Lawrence and Mr. E. Lawrence" 
besides "W" who is supposed to be the 
writer of the "Journal." The company 
must have been rather fastidious or else 
could not make proper allowance for neces- 
sary discomforts at pioneer and frontier 
road houses. "W" comolains of the ac- 
commodations at almost every inn at which 
they stopped. Here are some extracts from 
his diary : 

"Saturday 21. [August, 1773]. Left 
Bethlehem about 7 o'clock morning. Ar- 
rived at Allentown (6 miles) about 9, 
stop'd at the Sign of the King of Prussia, 
the House stunk so badly that we could not 
remain in it. . . . Allentown is a pret- 
ty situation but it seems to be a poor place. 
% past ten left Allentown, and at % past 
two arrived at Levan's (10 miles) where 



iQf chairs there were two sorts: (i) Sedan 
chairs, some carried on poles by servants, some 
so constructed as to be borne on a horse's back; 
these were, of course, without wheels ; (2 ) 
wheeled chairs, drawn by one horse. "The chair 
was a two-wheeled vehicle with a seat for two, 
and sometimes with an additional small seat, al- 
most over the shafts, for the driver." (Dunbar). 
The chair had no top, differing in this particular 
from the chaise which had a top covered with 
leather. The shafts generally extended quite a 
distance behind the seat affording a support for 
bag.£;age. None of the earliest chairs or chaises 
were equipped with springs. The iolting from the 
uneven roads was partly mitigated by having the 
body of the vehicle swing on braces of springy 
wood or suspended by stout straps of leather. 
The vehicles were painted in gaudy colors. The 
chairs used by this party were of the second 
sort. 

-In those days a period was written after the 
abbreviation "Miss." 



we had such a Dinner as Travellers must 
often put up with. . . .' The House 
did not seem remarkably clean, but may do 
to stop at for an Hour or so. At i/o 3 
p. M. left Levan's, . . . and about 
Seven o'Clock arrived at Shobers ( 10 
miles ) where . . . the House from ap- 
pearance promised something good, but 
alass ! we are often deceived by appear- 
ances, for it is the dirtiest House without 
exception in the Province, every room 
swarming with Buggs." Then he relates 
how while one of his companions slept "as 
tho' he had been on a bed of down" he 
lay awake all night despite the fact that he 
had taken a candle and encircled himself 
with a line of grease in the vain hope the 
circle would protect him from the "devoura- 
tions" of the "Buggs." 

Other travelers' rests sprung up along 
the thronged highway. One was at "Mose- 
lem's Corner"; another at Kirbyville; yet 
another at the "Half-Way House," a name 
reminiscent of the ancient time as is also 
that of the town of Temple, five miles east 
of Reading, named from the antique swing- 
ing sign, long since taken from its rusty 
hinges and put no one knows where, on 
which was painted what the accompanying 
legend declared to be "Solomon's Temple." 
Other hostelries were opened along the road 
in the opposite direction. 

In the stirring days of the American 
Revolution and of the unrest preceding the 
war the Easton Road acquired national im- 
portance (if the term national can be used 
of a time when as yet there was no nation). 
Over it troops marched to and fro. On 
June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress 
passed resolutions requiring twelve com- 
panies of expert riflemen to be raised for 
the purpose of joining the army of Wash- 
ington at Boston. Of these companies 
eight were to be recruited in Pennsylvania. 
The men of Berks county were the first to 
respond. As from Reading in 1861 "The 
First Defenders" marched to the national 
capitol for the preservation of their coun- 
try, so from Reading in 1775 the "Eirst 
Defenders" of the nation-to-be marched to 
Cambridge. A compan}^, some eighty 
strong, under the command of Captain 
George Nagel, left Reading early in July 
and on July 18 (1775) reported for duty to 
General Washington at Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts, among the first troops to answer 
the call of Congress. They marched over 
the Easton Road . The following were the 



ipor omission consult reproduction of the en- 
tire "Tournal" in the "The Pennsjdvania Maga- 
zine of History and Biography," July 1886. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



43 



Roll of Captain Georoe Nagel's Company 

Cal>tains 
George Nagel, commissioned June 25, 1775; 
promoted Major of the Fifth Battahon, Col. Rob- 
ert Magan, January S, 1776. Morgan Conner, 
commissioned January'5, 1776; March gth called 
from camp by Congress, and sent into the south- 
ern department : afterwards lieutenant-colonel of 
Colonel Hartey's regiment. 

First Lieutenants 
Morgan Conner, commission dated July 17, 
177s; promoted captain. 
David Harris, appointed January 5, 1776. 

Second Lieutenants 

Peter Scull, commissioned July 17, 1775; pro- 
moted captain of Third Pennsylvania Battalion, 
Colonel John Shee's, January 5, 1776. 

Benjamin Chambers, Sr., from orivate. Captain 
Chambers' Company, lanuary 5, 1776; subsequent- 
ly First Lieutenant First Pennsylvania. 

Third Lieutenants 
Peter Grubb, com. July Peter Weiser, appointed 
17) 177s; apointed to January 5, 1776 
Miles' rifle regiment 

Surgeoji 
Dr. Jonathan Potts 
Sergeants 
Jacob Bower, appointed John McKinty 

quartermaster Alexander Brannon 

Hananiah Lincoln, see Philip Gibbons 
Twelfth Pennsylvania 



Daniel Graff 

John Grant 

Elias Reiger, discharged 
July I, 1776; resided 
in Union county in 
1820 

Thomas Reilly 

John Rewalt 

William Robinson 

Christian Rone 

Nicholas Shanefelt 

Andrew Shirk 

Joseph Smith 

Henry Snevely, Sr. 



James Williams 
Hugh Hughes 



Corporals 

Henry Snevely 
Casper Heiner 

Drummer 
John Molay 



Privates 



Thomas Bain 

Christopher Baldy 

Yost Berger 

Conrad Bourke 

Peter Bowman 

Peter Brough 

James Brown 

John Bermeter, living in 

Berks County in 1810 
Michael Ceney 
Casper Cool or Kool, 

died in Berks county 

in 1807 
John Cox 
Robert Creed 
William Crowley 
Henry Deckert 
Christian Derr, reenlist- 

ed in old Eleventh, 

Col. Humpton 
High Dennison 
John Dombaugh 
Jacob Duck 
Jacob Elgerts 
Tacob Ebright 
Andrew Engel 
Peter Felix 
George Fisher 
Christian Fought 
Michael Foust 
Lewis Franklinberry 
George Gearhart 
Charles Gordon 
Daniel Gorman 



Henry Orwig 
Samuel Parks 
Adam Pickle 
George Spotts 
John Stone 
John Streker 
Frederick Tueo 
Abraham Umstedd 
Philip Wagoner of Tul- 

pehocken 
Nicholas Waltman 
Christian Wander 
Tohn Weiser 
Isaac Willey 



Abraham Griffith 

John Grow 

Timothy Harris 

John Huber 

William Jones 

George Kemmerling 

John Kerner, wounded 
at Lechraere Pond, 
Nov. 9, 1775 ; re-en- 
listed in Sixth Penna. 
in 1777 

Charles Kleckner, pro- 
moted ensign of Ger- 
man Regiment 

Nicholas Leasure 

John Leaman 

Casper Leib 

Harmon Leitheiser, en- 
sign Sixth Pennsylva- 
nia 

John Lewis 

Samuel McFarland 

Christopher Martin 

Michael Miller 

Peter Mingle 

Alexander Mogey, (Mc- 
Gee) 

.Adam Moyer 

Christian Moyer, or 
Christooyer Myer 

Michael Moyer 

Ernst Nibber (Lawr- 
ence) 

Frederick Nipple 



The appearance of the men was described 
as follows in a letter by Judge Henr_v, of 
JLancaster, who, when a boy, was one of the 
riflemen : 

"They are remarkably stout and hard men, 
many of them exceeding six feet in height. They 
are dressed in white frocks or rifle-shirts and 
round hats. These men are remarkable for the 
accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great 
certainty at two hundred yards distance. At 
a review, while on a quick advance, a company 
of them fired their balls into objects of seven 
inches diameter at the distance of two hundred 
and fifty yards. They are now stationed in our 
lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal 
to British officers and soldiers who expose them- 
selves to view even at more than double the 
distance of common musket-shot. 

"Each man bore a rifle-barreled gun, a toma- 
hawk or a small ax and a long knife, usually 
called a 'scalping knife' which served for all pur- 
poses in the woods. His underdress by no means 
in military style, was covered by a deep ash- 
colored hunting shirt, leggins and moccasins — if 
the latter could be procured. It was the silly 
fashion of those times for riflemen to ape the 
manners of savages." 

On the evening of July 22, 1775, there 
marched into town (there must have been 
at least a few houses here at that time) 
over this road a body of riflemen, two com- 
nanies, commanded by Captain WilHam 
Hendricks and Captain John Chambers, 
which had started from Carlisle nine days 
orevious and had stopped at Reading for 
five days. They, too, were bound for Cam- 
bridge. Arriving there early in August, 
they went into camp, for a little over a 
month, with eleven other companiesof mus- 
queteers, Pennsylvania soldiers, under the 
command of Colonel William Thompson, of 
Carlisle. From Cambridge, on September 
II, these soldiers, under the command of 
Colonel Benedict Arnold, began the long, 
toilsome, and finally disastrous march 
through the forests and over the portages 
of the mountains of what is now the State 
of Maine to the ill-fated attack on Quebec 
on the last day of the vear. Of these com- 
nanies the officers at least were quartered 
for the night at "Swan's Tavern, 18 miles" 
from "Riding," This was likely the tav- 
ern at Kutztown with, probably, a sign on 
which was painted a swan, from which it 



44 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



was known as "The Swan Inn." It is the 
brick building on East Main street near 
Noble street, long the property of Dr. 
Charles H. Wanner, and now the home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Zach. C. Hoch and Mrs. 
Laura Wanner Gross. The house is ample, 
as the accompanying picture shows. Tra- 
dition, not improbable, declares that the 
bricks of which it is built were brought 
from England. The cellar walls are mas- 
sive and the beams supporting the first floor 
are of more than ordinary size. In the rear 
cellar is a great arch which some have 
taken to be the storage vault for the liquid 
refreshments by which in those days travel- 
ers were regaled. 




The Sw.\n Inn— Exterior 

The next day, as it appears from the 
record, other troops passed over the road, 
a company of mounted rifles, Virginians, 
under Captain Morgan (subsequently a 
brigadier-general and the hero of the Cow- 
pens) who, going on to Bethlehem, "made 
a two days' halt in [that] town, (Julv 24 
and 25).^ 

Early in 1776, probably about the begin- 
ning of February, a number of British sol- 
diers and their officers, with their wives 
and children, prisoners taken by General 
Montgomery on the capture of St. John 
and Chambly, were marched westward over 
this road to Reading, where they were quar- 

^See "The Old Sun Inn," in "Pennsylvania- 
German Society's Proceedings," Vol. VT, (1896) 
p. 56. 



tered. Although these prisoners were sent 
to Reading by the orders of Congress with- 
out previous notice, the people of that town 
"immediately appointed Mr. Henry Haller, 
a member of the committee, to provide 
houses, firewood and provisions for the par- 
ty who must otherwise have suffered much 
at [that] severe season."' Mark Bird, chair- 
man of the committee of correspondence, as 
soon as this provision for the captives was 
made reported to Congress requesting di- 
rections in the matter. On April 17, 1776. 
Congress ordered the officers to be removed 
to Lebanon. It seems that the privates re- 
mained but these behaved so badly that 
the Council of Safety ordered the prisoners 
to be guarded so long as they remained in 
the town. 

All through the spring and summer of 
1776 there was "incessant marching" over 
this road of recruits from the lower coun- 
ties on their way to "The Flying Camp" at 
Amboy. 

On the day after Christmas, 1776, seven 
persons, arrested in Northampton as Tories, 
"suspects inimical to the Revolution," were 
taken as prisoners over this road for in- 
carceration in the jail at Reading. Their 
arrival caused no little indignation at Read- 
ing, who complained that the people of 
Northampton were imposing upon the Read- 
ingites. "Reading must be endangered and 
at best burthened. Our prison is small, 
that of Lancaster is large, and that town 
is three times as large as this." So wrote 
James Read, Esq., to the Council of Safety 
on the next day after the arrival at Read- 
ing of these Tory prisoners. 

But with the beginning of 1777 the "Great 
Road" became of even greater importance to 
the voung nation. "Scarcely a week in 
the first eight months of 1777 but was 
marked by the movement of troops" over 
the road, going eastward to the theater of 
war. Early in September two hundred pris- 
oners of war ("one hundred of these were 
partisans of Donald McDonald from the 
Cross Creek settlement near Fayetteville, 
N. C") were marched over the Easton 
Road from Reading to Bethlehem. 

Later in the month there was lively move- 
ment in the opposite direction. The battle 
of Brandy wine, September 11, had proved 
disastrous to the American forces. Howe, 
the British commander, moved on Philadel- 
phia, causing consternation. Hastily the 
army starts and the sick and wounded of 
die Continentals were moved northward 
from French Creek and Philadelphia to 
Bethlehem and its vicinity. The Liberty 



'Montgomery's Berks County in the Revolu- 
tion," p. 151. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



45 



Bell and Christ Church bells were taken 
down and hurried to hiding in the basement 
of Zion's Reformed Church, Allentown, 
thus passing over a five or six mile stretch 
of this famous road. On September 23, 
"upwards of nine hundred army wagons 
were in camp in the fields in the rear or 
north of the Sun Inn at Bethlehem." 

On September 19, (1777), as is learned 
from the diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of 
Philadelphia, who was connected with the 
Ouartermaster's Department, the mone}', 
books, and papers belonging to the public 
were sent to Abraham Hunt's in New Jer- 
sey, while one load of hi.s private goods was 
.cent to Peter Trexler's (Breinigsville) in 
Korthampton countv. On Monday, Seotem- 
ber 22, as narrated in the Bethlehem Morav- 
ian Diary, the archives and other papers of 



established at Lancaster on the 27th, to be 
removed and set up at York three days later. 
In the "Diary of John Adams" (See Vol. 
II, of his works) we find this record: 

"September 25, [Thursday]. — Rode from Beth- 
lehem through Allentown to a German tavern, 
al)out eighteen miles from Reading." 

Thus we are assured that on the 25th 
and 26th of September, 1777, this great 
parsonage of Revolutionary times, accom- 
panied by his colleagues of the Continental 
Congress, passed over the Easton Road and 
on the night of the 25th slept in I^evan's 
Inn (now Kemps), in the Swan Inn, or in 
one of the other inns that, possibly, by that 
time had been established along the line of 
the road within the present limits of the 
borough. 




Arch in Cei,i<ar in Swan Inn 



Congress arrived at Bethlehem, being 
Irrought from Trenton, by way of Easton. 
These treasures were in the guardianship 
of fifty troopers and fifty infantry. 

On Tuesda\-, September 23, the heavy 
baggage of the Continental .Army, "in a 
continuous train of 700 wagons, direct from 
camp, arrived under escort of 200 men, 
commanded by Colonel William Polk, of 
North Carolina," at Bethlehem, and went 
into camp. The wagon that hauled the 
Liberty Bell was one of this train. 

At the approach of Howe's armv the 
Continental Congress, in session at Phila- 
delphia, on September 18, adjourned to 
meet in Lancaster, and hastily leaving the 
citv fled to Lancaster by way of Bethlehem, 
Allentown, Kittztown, and Reading. The 
heg^ira through our town, or what there was 
of it at that time, must have been on Sep- 
tember 24 to 26, since the new capital was 



This flight of the Continental Congress 
ever this read may be the origin of a rather 
persistent tradition, evidently a myth, to the 
effect that Washington passed through the 
town, slept in one or another of the old 
houses, and that he camped under the 
boughs of the great "Centennial Oak," 
which stands on the Bieber farm a short 
distance south of Kemp's Hotel. 

Exhaustive investigation has proved that 
Washington was never in or quite near to 
Kutztown. Perhaps a part of the fleeing 
baegage train fled so far west. In one 
article in "The Pennsvlvania-German" 
(Vol. Ill, p. 83), entitled "Over the Old 
Easton Road," one may read: 

"About a quarter of a mile south of Kemo's 
Hotel is the Bieber farm, where Dr. fN. C] 
Schaeffer's grandmother on his mother's side 
was born. She took pleasure in describing the 
encampment of a division of the baggage train 



46 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



of Washington's army on this farm, either be- 
fore or after the battle of Germantown, in 1777, 
as she heard it related by her parents when 
she was a girl. There is a tine spring of water 
on the farm, which, together with the fact that 
it was more or less secluded, was no doubt the 
motive for retreating to this spot. She stated 
that the meadow in front of the house, and the 
field extending to the farm on the west, were 
filled with tents, wagons, and horses. When the 
soldiers arrived the women were engaged in 
taking and to extend to them the hand of wel- 
come, they continued to bake loaves of bread, 
cakes, and pies, until their supply of flour was 
exhausted, and voluntarily distributed the same, 
as they were taken fresh from the oven, amonsr 
them. Dewalt Bieber, the owner of the land, 
who lived close by, sold cider to the soldiers by 
.sourd measure ; but, after imbibing freely, they 
demanded possession of the cask, which proved 
too much for this sturdy Pennsylvania-German, 
whereupon he seized the most convenient weapon, 
a swine's yoke, and beat them off. This caused 
the officers to station guards around the house. 
The following morning Mr. Bieber's mare was 
found in the meadow stabbed to death, her colt 
standing by her side — no doubt an act of revenge. 

"A short distance from the house stands a 
mammoth white oak tree, known as 'the Cen- 
tennial White Oak of Pennsylvania' (See picture 
on page 2), under which, it is said, the officers 
had their headquarters. [The tree has borne the 
name 'Centennial Oak' for nearly forty years, 
the name originating, very likely, from a re- 
mark by Prof. John S. Ermentrout in his 'His- 
torical Sketch of Kutztown and Maxatawny,' 
1876, p. 2.3 : — 'The mammoth white oak of Berks 
* * * may justly be called the Centennial White 
Oak of Pennsylvania. On the 15th of Septem- 
ber, 1777, one hundred years will have passed by, 
since the baggage train of Gen. Washington's 
army, on its retreat from the battlefield of Ger- 
mantown, sought and found protection under 
and around this Revolutionary tree.' In spite of 
the historical inaccuracy of several of Profes- 
sor Ermentrout's statements concerning the al- 
leged visit of Washington, his fancj' as to a 
name for the tree aopealed to the popular im- 
agination and 'Centennial Oak' it has been called 
from that day to this.l 

"The tree is several hundred years old and 
it is believed to be sturdy enough to defj' the 
storms of another hundred years. The trunk, 
rear the .ground, measures twenty-nine feet, four 
inches, in circumference, and between the tenth 
and twentieth foot from the ground the tree 
sends out twenty limbs, most of which measure 
five to six feet in circumference, the largest meas- 
uring seven feet, three inches. The height of the 
tree is sixty-two feet, and the boughs spread 
ninety-eight feet." 

On October 8, 1777, Jacob Hiltzheimer, 
of Philadelphia, (referred to above), in his 
flig-ht with the "money, books and papers 
belons;ino; to the public * * * and one load 
of [hisl private goods," arrived in the after- 
noon at "Squire Peter Trexler's" fBrei- 
nigsville.) The next day. October gth, the 
two wagons containing these public and 
nrivate effects, despite a rain that was fall- 
ing, were sent on to Reading. Hiltzheimer 
and family spent the rainy day at Trexler's 
and the following morning, Friday, passed 
over this road to Reading. 



On November 2 of the same year John 
Hancock went through town, on his way to 
Ijoston from York where he had been 
serving as President of the Continental 
Congress. He was escorted by fifteen drag- 
oons. 

On the evening of November 12, 1777, 
there was a group of half a dozen or so of 
men at Levan's Tavern (Kemp's) whose 
conversation one might wish had been 
more fully reported. One was the Hon- 
orable William Ellery, one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence and as 
representative from Rhode Island, at this 
time, a member of the Coiitinental Congress 
sftting at York. He had left Dighton, 
Mass., on October 20th, and with a travel- 
ing companion. Judge Francis Dana, (son- 
in-law of Mr. Ellery and son of Richard 
Dana, of Cambridge, Mass.) was on his 
way to York where the pair arrived Novem- 
ber 15. The other men were Judge Dana's 
body servant; Colonel John Brown, of Mas- 
sachusetts, who, on September 18, 1777, 
"surprised the outposts of Ticonderoga, 
freed one hundred American prisoners of 
war, captured four companies of regulars, 
a quantity of stores and cannon, and de- 
stroyed a large number of boats" ;and four 
other "New England Men." The reader 
may be interested in the following extract 
from Mr. Ellery's Diary. 

"i2th. Bated at Snell's, nine miles, and ate 
? tolerable veal Cutlet. Snell is a good Whig. 
From thence to Levan's about 15 miles from 
Snell's where we lodeed. Here we met Col 
Brown and four other New England men. Brown 
p'ave us an account of his expedition to Ti 
[conderoga] and of the INfode of Surrendry of 
the vaunting Burgoyne. The fore part of this 
day was filled with snow squalls which proved 
peculiarly irksome to Mr. Dana's servant, whose 
surtout was stolen the evening before at John- 
son's by some soldiers, the afternoon was com- 
fortable but the evenine was windy and exceed- 
ine-ly cold. The room in which we sat and lodged 
admitted the cold air at a thousand chinks, and 
our narrow bed had on it only a thin rug and 
one sheet. We went to bed almost completely 
dressed but even that would not do. It was so 
cold that I could not sleep. What would I not 
have given to have been by my fireside. * * * 
Our fellow lodo-ers suffered as much as we did. 
* * * What added to the infamousness of this 
tavern was the extreme squaliditv of the rooins, 
beds and every utensil. * * * Notwithstanding 
we had nothing * * * but a hock of pork, boiled 
a second time, and some bread and butter — We 
found our own tea and coffee, and hay and oats 
for the horses — this daughter of Lycurgus [the 
Isndladvl charged for Mr Dana, myself and serv- 
ant, thirtjf-eight shillings lawfvil money !"^ 

The next morning, November qth, the 
party left Levan's on their way to Reading. 



i"Pennsvlvania Magazine of History and Bio- 
graphy," Oct. 1887. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



47 



A short distance east of a tavern on the 
road, about nine miles west of Levan's 
they met "Mr. Samuel and Mr. John Ad- 
ams," bound for their home. The two 
noted New Englanders turned back to the 
tavern [Half Way House ( ?) ] where the 
company sat and chatted and "'ate bread and 
butter tog'ether." From this statement it is 
evident that the x\damses passed through 
Kutztown eastward on the afternoon of 
this day. 

Other noted travelers who, pretty certain- 
ly passed over this road during- the first six 
months of 1778 were: General Greene, 
General Gates and family, Ethan Allen, 
'Earon Steuben, Count Pulaski, General 
Conway, General Mcintosh, General Lewis, 
and Governeur Morris. These dignitaries 
were traveling to or from York, where the 
Continental Congress was in session until 
the beginning of July. 

On the 5th of January, 1779, Baron 
Riedesel, commander of over 2000 Bruns- 
wickers surrendered bv Burgovne to Gates 
at Saratoga, (on the 17th of October. 1777) 
together with other officers, both German 
and British, prisoners of war, passed 
throueh Bethlehem, and certainly Kutztown 
also, "en route to Virginia to which state 
Congress had ordered them on parole." 

If Washington did not pass over the 
Easton Road, Lady Washington surely did. 
This distinguished lady arrived at Bethle- 
hem from Easton early in the forenoon of 
Tune 15th, 1779. Besides her proper escort 
she was accompanied by Generals Sullivan 
and Maxwell and other officers. General 
Sullivan at this time was fitting out an 
expedition against the Indians on the Sus- 
quehanna. The mihtary escort of honor 
returned to camp at Easton before noon. 
Lady Washington, stopping at the Sun Inn, 
being- shown the objects of interest in the 
town during the afternoon and attending 
worship in the evening in the Moravian 
Church, remained at Bethlehem over night 
and "earlv in the morning of the i6th set 
out for Virginia."^ She must have passed 
through Kutztown about noon of the lat- 
ter date. 

In the discussion of the physical features 
of the East Penn Vallev (See p. 2) refer- 
ence was made to the "Travels in the Con- 
federation" made in i78.-^-8j. bv the German 
.scientist. Dr. Johann David Schoepf. This 
careful observer and di=irist journeyed over 
the Easton Road, one dav in the latter part 
of August, 1783. The following is Doctor 
Schoepf 's reference to our town : 



"•"Pennsylvania-German Society Proceedings," 
Vol. VI, p. 65. 



"After sunset we came to Kutz-town (19 miles 
from Allen-town and .^i from Nazareth. A well- 
to-do German, in order to cut soraething of a 
figure with his name in his ears, gave the land 
for this place, which is only some three years 
old, and the houses but few and not large. (P. 
195, English translation.) 

The ears of the learned German doctor 
were, evidently, ofifended at the speech of 
the people of the valley and, consequently, 
he was moved to write, on the preceding 
page, when he tells of the county between 
"Maguntchy," and Kutztown, somewhat 
disparaging of the utterance of the people 
whom he praises, however, for some things. 
"The farm management seems pretty order- 
ly. One gets a glimpse of many good stone 
houses, many of them very neat; and every- 
thing about the premises shows order and 
attention. The people are rnainl}' Germans 
who speak bad English and distressing Ger- 
man," A pleasant touch of description of 
the landscape is given when he adds : "The 
buckwheat, greatly seeded here after wheat 
for the second harvest, stood in full bloom 
and with the pennyroyal, so common on 
all the roads, made a strong and pleasant 
evening odor." 

It would be interesting to know at which 
of the taverns of the town or vicinity Lady 
Washington stopped for mid-day meal or 
Doctor Schoepf tarried for the night, but 
at the present information as to this is 
lacking. 

In those early davs and in the following 
years many other celebrities, candidates for 
office in state and nation, occupants of high 
station, notables of every rank, besides mil- 
lions of commoner folk, used for purposes 
of business or pleasure, this highway join- 
ing the South and East and connecting 
.near the south of the State with roads 
and traders ' paths across the mountains to 
the West. 



Modes of Travel 

Modes of travel in the earlier time were 
as primitive as the frontier inns to which 
some reference has been made. Wayfarers 
journeyed on horseback, by chairs and 
chaises, bv "sopus wagons" (so-called be- 
cause first made at Esopus, N. Y., in which 
place the DeTurck family originally settled 
and whence, prior to 1712, they emigrated 
to Oley township, Berks county, and finallv 
to Maxatawny Valley") by "Jersey wagons," 
curricles, phaetons, private stages or car- 
riages, and later bv public stage coach. In 
an old book kept by a clerk of the Sun Inn 
at Bethlehem were found, among other in- 
teresting entries, the following, of arrivals 
at that hostelry: 



48 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



"1801, June 20 — A gentleman and a lady 
in a chair. 

"July 15 — Two gentlemen in a currich, 
three horses and one servant. 

"August 12 — A gentleman in a Windsor 
chair. 

"September i — A company in a Jersey 
wagon. 

'^September 12 — A gentleman and a lady 
in a phaeton. 

"1802, June 4 — A gentleman and ladf 
on horseback, 4 horses and one servant. 

"September 18 — The President of Cam- 
bridge University. 

"October 3 — A gentleman in a 'Sopus 
wagon.' 

"October 20 — General Davis, Governor 
of North Carolina, one child, and negro 
servant in chairs. 

"1803, June 7 — Commodore Berry of the 
shio United States, and negro servant. 

"July 29 — A gentleman and family of six 
children, two black girls, and two drivers 
from Baltimore." 

How interesting it would be had there 
been made more such records not only of 
the arrivals at the Sun Inn at Bethlehem 
but also of those who tarried for "bating" 
or for a night's lodging at the road houses 
all along this then famous way. 

In the early days, moreover, this road 
was thronged by wagons engaged in com- 
merce. Trains of Conestoga wagons or 
"Pitt-Fuehren," sometimes eight to ten 
teams in the train, rolled eastward and west- 
ward over the road, loaded heavily with 
the products .which one section of the rao- 
idlv developing country desired to exchange 
with the other. The Conestoga wagon, 
named probably after the stream which 
flows through Lancaster county, in which 
county the vehicle likely had its origin, or, 
possibly, after the heavy draft horses which 
drew the wagons, a breed developed in the 
Valley of the Conestoga, was " a huge af- 
fair, very heavily built, with a [panelled] 
bed higher at each end than in the middle, 
and topped by a dull-white cloth cover 
which had a similar curve of still more 
pronounced degree. The wagon was con- 
structed in concave shape in order that its 
contents mis:ht not spill out when it was 
g-oins; UP or down hill. Still another dis- 
tinguishing characteristic of the convevance 
was its color. The under bodv was alwavs 
painted blue and the upper woodwork was 
invariablv bright red. . . . The Conestoea 
wagons] were the frigates of the land." 



'Seymour Dunbar's "A History of Travel in 
.America," p. 203-4. 



The harness of the four to six horses by 
which these wagons were drawn was of the 
best materials and this and other trappings 
of the horses, were often gaudily and ex- 
pensively adorned. Not infrequently there 
rose from the heavy collars of the animals 
( collars of leather stuffed with straw or 
curled hair ) metal arches set with about 
half a dozen sweet toned bells which gave 
a pleasant jingling as the drivers urged 
their trains along. At the front of the 
wagon bed was a chest, having a pent- 
house lid, for tools. At the rear was 
suspended a long trough from which, loos- 
ened from its chains and set up on trusties, 
the hungry horses might eat their corn and 
oats, when the train halted for a rest. Un- 
der the wagon hung water buckets while 
from the rear end of the projecting "coup- 
ling pole depended by a leathern thong the 
wooden tar bucket which contained the 
lubricant for the massive wheels and axles." 
Readers interested in these predecessors 
of the freisrht train of today may find in the 
"United States Agricultural Report," for 
1863, an account written by one who was 
an authority on these vehicles of the long 
ago. "Pitt-Fuehren" was the local German 
name for the heavy broad-tire wagons 
which carried freight to and from Pitts- 
burg (whence the name). In most cases, 
probably, these were Conestoga wagons or 
vehicles of similar construction. 

Stage Coaches 

At first travelers for business or for 
pleasure journeyed, apparently, in privately 
owned or rented vehicles, such as have been 
mentioned on a previous page, going when 
they willed and stopping where and when 
they pleased. After a time, as the volume 
of travel increased, public conveyances, 
stages, rude constructions in their earliest 
forms as one may infer from contemporary 
accounts and from tradition, were intro- 
duced, havinp' definite routings and carrying 
passengers for stipulated fare, besides the 
mails and light merchandise. The first pub- 
lic conve3'ance at Reading v/as a two-horse 
coach, which ran weekly between that city 
and Philadelphia, fifty-one miles, carryin.q; 
nassengers and letters. The fare was two 
dollars ; letters were carried for two pence 
(four cents') each. Two davs were con- 
sumed in making the trip. The line was 
established by Martin Hausman in 1789. 
\fter several vears the business passed into 
the hands of William Coleman, who im- 
proved the service greatlv, extendingr it by 
wav of Womelsdorf and Lebanon to Harris- 
burg, westwardlv, and bv wav of Hamburg. 
Orwigsburg, Sharp Mountain Gap, and 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



49 



over the Broad Mountain, to Sunbury, 
northwardly. In 1818 stages between Sun- 
bury and Philadelphia ran twice a week 
each way. Between Harrisburg and Phila- 
delphia a tri-weekly service was given. 
William Coleman died in 1820. The busi- 
ness passed, first to his widow, then to his 
sons John and Nicholas who, in 1823, ran 
weekly stages between Reading and Easton. 
Whether this was the first appearance of the 
public stage coach on the Easton Road we 
do not know. Ermentrout says : ''At first, 
three times a week the rumbling wheels of 
the stage enlivened the quiet air of the 
town." From the same authority the fol- 
lowing facts are gleaned: Prior to 1837 
David Fister, Jacob Graff, and Charles Sea- 
greaves were proprietors of the Reading to 
Easton Line. On February ist, that year, 
these gentlemen announced that from that 
time forward, Sundays excepted, a daily 
coach would be run each way between the 
two towns — Reading and Easton. There 
was, either then or later, a line running be- 
tween Kutztown and Norristown by way of 
Boyertown. Samuel Hartranft was its pro- 
prietor and his son John, who later became 
governor of Pennsylvania, sometimes drove 
the coach. 

Before 1826 the stage coach was locally 
known as a "steamboat" and was an un- 
covered wagon capable of holding twenty 
passengers. Competition between the Cole- 
man or "Old Line" and several new claim- 
ants of public patronage on the route from 
Reading to Philadelphia, led to the intro- 
duction of an improved conveyance, the 
"Troy Coach." "It held eleven passengers, 
with room for five or more on top." 

At last the railroad came, not indeed, to 
Ktitztown, but passing several miles to the 
south. The building of the East Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad from Reading to Allentown. 
completed May 11, 1859, was the death of 
the old stage line. Coaches ceased running 



between AUentown and Reading in that 
year. 

For a little over ten years travelers to 
and from Kutztown made their waj' across 
country between this town and Lyons, 
nearest station on the new railway as best 
they might. On January 10, 1870, the Kutz- 
town Branch was completed and then for 
years until electric car and automobile 
came, the branch to Topton was the readiest 
mode of communication with the outside 
world. Thus, for a time the old road, with 
which, as we have seen and shall see fur- 
ther, so much of the history and life of Max- 
atawny and Kutztown has been associated 
was almost deserted. Now again, however, 
the automobile having been invented, the 
old road has more than regained its old- 
time populai^ity as a great highway of the 
people between the southland and the East- 
ern States. Hundreds of gas-driven vehi- 
cles, many of them bearing license tags and 
pennants indicating that they come from 
far, pass over the road each day. Again, 
as in the years gone by, statesmen, candi- 
dates for high office, notables of every rank 
pass over the roads in their private cars, 
which rival the cars of the railway in con- 
venience and speed. Day by day this traffic 
is increasing and with it is increasing the 
business of the town. The Easton Road as 
we may see was the occasion of the building 
of the town. Town and highway are close- 
I3' connected in history and in fortune and, 
now that the old road, after being main- 
tained for many years by the local authori- 
ties, has passed under the direct control of 
the state ( igi i ) it is to be hoped that its 
importance may be realized, that it may be 
improved and be maintained in the excel- 
lence which it deserves, and that with it, 
in the centuries to come, the town at the 
crossing of the Saucony may attain a mag- 
nitude and an importance of which its pres- 
ent citizens do not even dream. 




Oi,D Log Cabin formerly on Kutz Farm facing Long Lane 



so 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



RAILROADS— THE KUTZTOWN BRANCH 



The first movement to connect Kutztown 
with the outer world by railroad was taken 
at "quite an early period, before the Phila- 
delphia and Reading Railroad was complet- 
ed." (Ermentrout, p. lo.) A pubhc meet- 
ing was held in Kutztown to consider the 
project of building a railway "from Ham- 
burg, via Kutztown, to Pottsgrove, to con- 
nect with the Reading and Norristown road. 
It is said that the killing of a teamster, near 
Pennsburg, Montgomery County, by an en- 
gineer of the proposed company, put an 
end to the project." (Ermentrout, p. lo). 



railroad should not be extended by way 
of Kutztown, a branch should be construct- 
ed to that place. In 1856 (]\Iar. 9) an Act 
of Assembly was passed incorporating the 
"Reading and Lehigh Railroad Company," 
authorizing the construction of a railroad 
from the junction of the Philadelphia and 
Reading Railroad and the Lebanon Valley 
Railroad at Reading to the Lehigh Valley 
Railroad at Allentown. By Act of Assem- 
bly April 21, 1857 the name of the com- 
pany was changed to the "East Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad Company." Construction be- 




The p. & R. Railw.w Station at KuTzTown 



Ermentrout, in his "Centennial Memor- 
ial" (1876 p. 10,) tells us further that: 

On February 25, 1837, at the hotel of 
David Fister, [there] was held a large meet- 
ing to urge on the plan for building a road 
from Hamburg, via Kutztown, to Allen- 
town. There were passed resolutions, call- 
ing upon the Legislature to pass an Act 
already in its hands "to empower the Gov- 
ernor to incorporate the Hamburg and 
Allentown Railroad Company." Nothing 
came of this efifort. 

In 1854 Allentown Railroad Company 
was incorporated to construct a railroad 
from Allentown to the Philadelphia and 
Reading Railroad at any point between 
Reading and Port Clinton; and if this 



gan June 1857. In a little less than two 
years, the road was completed. The last 
spike was driven on May 11, 1859, and on 
that day trains began to run between Read- 
ing and Allentown Junction. Leased in 
1869, to the Philadelphia and Reading Rail- 
road Company, it has since been operated 
by that corporation. That line of railroad 
did not pass through Kutztown, and so, 
for a little over ten and a half years Kutz- 
tonians, to get to the railroad, had to travel 
to L}'ons Station, two and one-half miles 
south of their town. 

The Allentown Railroad Company, spok= 
en of above, began, in 1857, work on the 
proposed line, then known as the Allentown 
and Auburn Railroad. To this company 
there had been subscribed in and around 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



51 



Kntztown more than twenty thousand dol- 
lars. Lewis K. Hottenstein was owner of 
five thousand dollars of this amount. Con- 
struction went on merrily for a time. Then 
a financial panic put a stop to the project, 
but not until long reaches of road-he'd 
had been graded. Portions of this partly 
completed road may be seen in the meadows 
helow Brooklyn, the northern suburb of 
Kutztown, and at various places along the 
Saucony Creek to Virginville and beyond. 
Considerable stone work was done on cul- 
verts and on bridge piers a short distance 
below the "second dam" are still to be seen 
the foundations of a projected "askew 
bridge." This is interesting as a relic of 
a type of arched stone bridge favored at the 
time, a completed specimen of which maj^ 
be seen in the stone arch spanning Sixth 
street, near the "outer station," Reading. 
It may be interesting to note in this con- 
nection that the latter bridge, crossing the 
street diagonally, is asserted to be the only 
"askew bridge" ever erected that did not 
tumble down. Such fame at least the Sixth 
street stone bridge has throughout the coun- 
try, the writer having heard this assertion 
made of it in a town in the middle west, 
almost on the banks of the Mississippi. 
But the bridge on the Allentown and Au- 
burn Railroad never fell down because it 
was never put ud. About this time the 
Philadelohia and Reading Railroad Com- 
Danv which, in i86g, leased the East Penn- 
svlvania Railroad, obtained control of the 
stock of the Allentown and Auburn Com- 
panv. 

In i8fi8 a Dublic meeting of the citizens 
of Kutztown and vicinitv was held and at 
this meetins" a oetition was drawn un re- 
nuestine the Philadelohia and Readine Rail- 
road Comoanv to comolete the road from 
Tonton to Kutztown. The netition met 
with a favorable resoonse. Work on the 
branch was begim Tune q, i860. It is of 
record that Favette Schoedler turned the 
first shovel of earth. Construction was 
nnshed ranidlv forwards and the four and 
one-half miles of road was comoleted in a 
little less than six months, so that on Tan- 
uary 10, (1870), the first train ran over the 



twin steels between the two towns. George 
A. Hoover was at the throttle of the en- 
gine, Jack Bern shoveled the coal, George 
Snodgrass was conductor, Theodore G. Fa- 
ber looked after the baggage and Randolph 
Godwin and Allen W. Fritch tended the 
brakes.^ The Kutztown station was erected 
during the years 1869-1870. Since its op- 
ening the Kutztown Branch has been oper- 
ated by the Philadelphia and Reading Rail- 
way under a lease. 

The first ticket sold after the road was 
opened was to Lewis Hottenstein. 

For many years this line of road was, for 
its length, the most profitable part of the 
Philadelphia and Reading Railway system. 
It still handles a vast quantity of freight 
and is, perhaps, surpassed only by the short 
lines serving the recently developed cement 
districts. For many years the passenger 
traffic was heavy and there were four daily 
passenger trains each way. Since the open- 
ing of the electric traction lines to.^llen- 
town and Reading passenger travel over the 
steam road has diminished and only two 
(passenger) trains run in each direction 
daily. The freight traffic is, however, in 
no wise diminished but, instead, is holding 
its own and even slightly growing as the 
industries of the town and the population 
of the community together with their needs 
increase. 

The station was remodeled in December, 
1913- 

The present force of employes at the 
station are: C. C. Deibert, station agent; 
Thomas Nester, clerk; Walter Fronheiser, 
operator ; James Leapoal, department hand. 

The train is manned by J. P. S. Fenster- 
macher, conductor ; Wallace Reinert, brake- 
man; Benj. Deibert, baggagemaster ; Chas. 
Heckman, engineer; Harry Richards, fire- 
man. 



^A big crowd gathered to take the ride to 
Topton or to see the train pull out. The loco- 
motive was almost covered with flowers and 
wreaths. As it was winter most of these adorn- 
ments were of paper, fashioned, many of them 
bv Mrs. J. F. Wentzel and her sister,' Mrs. Ed. 
Kern. 




52 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



HOTELS 



Taverns, inns, hotels, road-houses, trav- 
ellers rests, on the one hand, and highways 
on the other, are closely related. Where 
travelers by horses or coach passed need 



cupidity, which led the pioneer Levan, 
whose house stood thus near half-way be- 
tween the two large towns, to open his door 
to take the stranger in. Such hospitality 




The Fuli, Moon Hotei. 



was for "Entertainment for Man and 
Beast." Such need was instant all along 
the Easton Road. Consequently when the 
wearv and belated traveler came a centurv 



was profitable and soon the pioneer dis- 
covered that keeping tavern was more gain- 
ful than tilling root infested acres. So he 
enlarged his building and converted it into 




Emaus— Bunker Hili<— General Jackson Hotel 



and a half ago to the intersection of the 
"New Maxatawny Road" and the Easton 
Road, it was but simple German hospital- 
ity, coupled perhaps with a bit of German 



a tavern — Levan's Tavern, Kemp's Hotel — 
of which the reader has read before. Then 
men west of the crossing of the Saucony 
saw how the pioneer was thriving, espec- 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



53 



ially after the Great Road was built and 
travel over it grew heavy. So, probably, 
first of all the Swan Inn, also kept by a 
JUevan, was built. Of this, too, mention 
has been made. But these two taverns were 
not the only ones in this vicinity nor was 
the Swan Inn long the only road house with- 
in the present limits of the borough. How 
many hotels there were at any one time or 
at different times, no one knows for sure. 
There were, of a certainty, not a few, more 
in the olden times than now, and now there 
is no dearth, unless for purposes of rest 
in the approaching Centennial week, when, 
as is confidently predicted, most of the 
country will come to see and hear. 

Which were first, when each was opened, 
how long it dispensed hospitality, liquid and 
otherwise, it is impossible now to say. 
From various sources the subjoined rela- 
tions have been collected. The compiler 
trusts that he has not been unduly credulous 
and dependent on uncertified tradition and 
that the statements here set down may not 
vary seriously from historic truth. 

Of the Swan Inn it may be added that 
its first keeper was Levan and that after 
various vicissitudes it finally passed, June 
17, 1856, into the possession of Dr. Charles 
H. Wanner, who, paying $2600 for the 
property, which was then greatly out of 
repair, remodeled it and making it a com- 
fortable home, left it to his widow, from 
whom it was inherited by the present occu- 
pants, who, recently, again greatly improved 
the historic home. 

Another hotel of the earliest days of the 
town was one kept by Henry Schweier. 
Where his inn was located, when it was 
erected, when it passed out of existence 
are not matters of known record. A news- 
paper clipping informs us that among the 
first transfers of lots after the laying out of 
the town were transfers made, in 1785, by 
the founder to Adam Dietrich and Henry 
Schweier. The latter, the inn-keeper, pur- 
chased "six in-lots and eleven out-lots" and 
on one or more of them erected his hotel. 

From Montgomery (old "History of 
Berks County," p. 860) we learn that about 
a hundred years ago a man named Lesher 
conducted a hotel "on the site now occupied 
by the John Kohler mansion [now George 
B. Kohler]. It was a yellow frame build- 
ing and was quite popular in its day." 

The Pennsylvania House, on the western 
corner of Main and White Oak streets, now 
kept by George P. Angstadt and famous 
far and wide for the political suppers fur- 
nished by its landlord, is one of the oldest 
hotels in town. It is, however, the second 



one on the site, and its predecossor, name 
unknown, was one of the first hotels in the 
borough. At one time the old hotel was 
kept by George W. Fister, who, later, took 
charge of the Washington House. Accord- 
ing to the late John G. Wink, the old hotel 
was kept by David Levan and Daniel L,evan. 
A Mrs. Wingert was the last proprietor 
before the demolition of the old house. ^ 
The new stone house, evidently a wonder 
in its day, was erected in 184 1. For many 
years it was run by Charles Kutz, who is 
said to have been a popular landlord. He 
died in 1876 and was succeeded by Ed. 
Steckel, father of Dr. E. K. Steckel. Fol- 
lowing Steckel came James Frey (deceased 
1915), Jonathan Bortz, Frank Fritz, Wil- 
liam D. Gross, Henry Bauer, and the pres- 
ent occupant, George P. Angstadt. The 
hotel is still the property of Kutzes (Frank 
S. and Charles). 

During the Revolutionary Wa:-, when 
travel was unusually heavy as our study of 
the Easton Road revealed, there were open- 
ed numerous road-houses along its course. 
Of these, doubtless, most went out of busi- 
ness when traffic slackened after the war. 
How many of these were in Kutztown, no 
one knows for sure. Quite a number of old 
houses on West Main street look as though 
once they may have served as taverns. 

The old wooden house on the south side 
of West Main street, once the home of the 
late Isaac Hottenstein and now the home of 
his son Charles, is said to have been a 
hotel in that early time. Relations concern- 
ing it are, however, not consistent. The 
late John G. Wink was authority for the 
statement that it was called "The Emaus," 
and that it was open as a hotel for only a 
short time. Others sav that it was called 
"The Jackson House." In Ermentrout's 
"Historical Sketch" (p. 8) the interested 
may read : 

"Where Isaac Hottenstein now resides, lived in 
182.3-24, Michael Hendel, whose swinging sign 
with Andrew Jackson emblazoned on it, told the 
weary traveler, as he trudged or rode up the 
street, that within he could find in winter re- 
freshments to warm his freezing body, and in 
summer to abate the burning heat." 

And, if the word of some elderly resi- 
dents is to be taken, this old house bore 
yet another name, that of "The Bunker 
Hill." These apparent inconsistencies of 
tradition are possibly to be straightened out 
by the supposition that the name of the 
hostelry underwent successive changes un- 
der successive proprietors. First a host, 
possibly under Moravian influence, dis- 



iMrs. Wickert afterwards married John Levan. 



54 



CENTENNTy\L HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



pensed hospitality in it under the Scrip- 
tural name. Then, in the exciting days of 
the Revolution, an ardent patriot, flaming- 
with zeal for his country and hopino' to at- 
tract patronage from travelers of like opin- 
ion as to British tyranny, substitued "Bunk- 
er Hill" for "Emaus" on the sign. And, 



One other very old hostelry still stands, 
"The Full Moon," long changed to other 
uses and years ago removed from its ori- 
ginal site. It is the wooden building, the 
oroperty of the John Lesher estate , stand- 
ing now on the lot immediately east of 
the fine, three storv brick residence of Mr. 




Oi<D Stephen Esskr House (Front View) - Demolished 

Mr. Steven Esser, long a resident in this old house, which was demolished a number of years 
ago to make way in part for the hardware store of E. P. DeTurk, insists that the old house was 
erected in the year 1700. 




Old Stephen Esser House (Rear View)— Demolished 



surely, it is evidence of the thrifty shrewd- 
ness of a subsequent proprietor that, in 
this citadel of steadfast Democracy and at 
the heyday of the fame of "Old Hickory," 
he took down the patriotic signboard and 
elevated in its stead a new one painted with 
the portrait and bearing the name of "An- 
drew Jackson." 



C. W. Miller, at the head of West Main 
street. Once it stood where the Miller 
home now stands and was removed to its 
present site in 1855 by William Hine, who 
erected the Miller house on the spot where 
the hotel stood. Forty-three years ago the 
building was occupied by Edward Dike- 
man as a tobacco store. According to 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



55 



Ermentrout the tavern was noted for its 
"Apple Jack and Old Rye." Its landlord, 
for a time at least, was one David Moyer, 
who, it is recorded, "astonished the na- 
tives by the erection of a clover mill which 
was operated by ox power." He was a 
wood turner by trade, making ax handles, 
pick handles, and the like. His lathe was 
run by a tread mill, of which the motive 
power was a tame bear. Possibly the "ox- 
power" just mentioned was really this 
"bear-power." 

The other hotels in town are of more re- 
cent origin. First is to be mentioned "The 
Washington House." It was built in i8ii 
by George W. Fister who purchased lots 
17, 18, and a part of 19, on the town plot, 
from Jacob and Maria Humbert. 

Mr. Fister was formerly, as has been told 
above, proprietor of the old Pennsylvania 
House. His son and successor was David 
Fister who was a member of the firm of 
Fister, Graff and Seagraves, successors to 
the Coleman Brothers, as operators of the 
stage coach line running between Reading 
and Easton. The Washington House was 
the station for arrival and departure of the 
stages and for changing of the horses. The 
stage yard, stables, and shedding were on 
the opposite side of Main street where now 
stand the homes of Mr. Benjamin F. Dei- 
bert and Dr. U. S. G. Bieber. The house 
was owned by the Fisters until 1853 when 
the property passed into the hands of Jacob 
Reichart. In the management of the hotel, 
however, the Fisters were succeeded in 
1837, the year of the birth of the late Col. 
T. D. Fister, by Charles Fauber. Later 
the hotel was kept by Ulrich Miller who 
bought the property in 1865 from John 
Haak. Its present landlord is William D. 
Yoder. 

In 1840 the Washington House was 
known as Fauber's Hotel. It is of record 
that during the presidential campaign of 
1840 one of the most exciting events in 
Kutztown was the visit and the political 
speech of "The Buckeye Blacksmith" who 
is said to have been "an orator of great 
power and success in advocating the Whig 
doctrines of that day. He made a horse- 
shoe in the shop of Nathan Wink, and then 
spoke to an immense crowd of people as- 
sembled in front of Fauber's Hotel, keep- 
ing [the assemblage] in good humor in 
spite of a purpose on the part of many to 
molest him." 

Nathan Wink was a brother to the late John 
G. Wink and Augustus Wink, and fathtr of Mr. 
Georsre T. Wink, the skilled sign painter and en- 
thusiastic antiquarian of Reading-, His black- 
smith shop stood on South White Oak street 
where is now the residence of Achilles Hunsicker, 



while his residence was on the site now occupied 
by the home of Mr. David W. James. A piece 
of Mr. Wink's handiwork, an iron hasp bearing 
his initials, "N. W." may yet be seen on the door 
of an old barn formerly owned by Jonas Hoch, 
father of Messrs, Zach T. and Jefferson C. 
Hoch and now the property of Charles K. 
Deisher. 

"The Black Horse Hotel," at the south- 
east corner of East Main and Noble streets, 
is one of the oldest existing hotels of the 
town. The present brick building, erected 
in 1845, by Jacob Fisher, who as proprietor 
was succeeded by Daniel Zimmerman, is 
the second structure on the site. The ori- 
ginal hotel, built very early in the last cen- 
tury, was one of log, weatherboarded. It 
covered an area of about 24 by 40 feet. 
Killian Borst (his descendants S|,ell the 
name "Bast") was one of the early land- 
lords. The old log building, taken down to 
permit of the erection of its successor, was 
removed to the Neff farm now owned by 
Maria Strasser. Famous in the early days 
of the log structure, this hostelry had wide 
renown, particularly for its excellent cook- 
ing in the decade from 1855 to 1865. 
Among the various landlords in the new 
house were : Jacob Fisher, Daniel Zimmer- 
man, Jacob Zimmerman, Joel Dietrich, 
Thomas Y. Haus, Peter Wentzel, Henry 
Bauer, Lewis Stoudt, Lewis Walters, Mor- 
ris Rentschler, Oliver Sittler, Wm. Bauk- 
necht, Francis Levan, and J. T. Fritch. The 
present landlord is J. Edwin Wenz. 

One peculiarity of this hostelry is its picture 
signboard— a painted horse and the name of the 
house besides. In the early days different classes 
of wayside inns were clearly distinguished. Each 
kind of hotel catered to a different class of way- 
farers. The better class of hotels were known as 
"stage stands," where travelers of higher social 
rank going by public stage or private conveyance 
stopped for refreshments or for rest. A little 
lower in the scale were the "wagon stands," 
taverns which drew their patronage mainly from 
wagoners and teamsters, who halted only for the 
night, "putting up" as the phrase ran, feeding 
their weary horses (by day these were fed, gen- 
erally, as has been described, by the roadside, from 
the great troughs carried by the Conestoga wa- 
gons and "Pitt-fuehren") from supplies, except 
hay, carried in their wagons, and then seeking 
rest themselves upon bags of hay thrown upon 
the floor of bar-roon or even of the barn. A 
third class was called "drove stands." Here 
drovers stopped for watering, feeding, or pastur- 
ing, over night or from Saturday night to Sun- 
day morning, of their cattle which, in those early 
days, were driven to market in great droves. 
Lowest of all in the scale of taverns was the 
"tap-house." This catered to the lowest class of 
patrons, though doubtless occasionally folks of 
hi.gher rank than the customary patron would stop 
for the liquid refreshment always on tap by the ' 
tender of the bar who, especially in other parts 
of the state, was usually an Irishman. Usually, 
also, the lines between the classes of tavern, and 
the classes of patrons as well, were so closely 
drawn that "no stage tavern would on any ac- 
count permit a teamster to put up there for 



56 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



the night, for if it became known that a wagoner 
had stopped there it would be considered a last- 
ing disgrace and would result in the loss of the 
better class of patrons. (J. F. Sachse in "The 
Wayside Inns on the Lancaster Roadside"). 

Mr. Sachse, from whom the last quota- 
tion is drawn, writes informingly of the 
signboards such as "The Black Horse Ho- 
tel" _vet displays. He says : 

"Another feature of these old inns . . . was 
their signboards which swung and creaked in 
their yoke. . . . These signboards were all fig- 
urative and in some cases painted by artists of 
note. The cause for the figurative feature was 
two-fold : First, they were more ornate and 
could be better understood by the two different 
nationalities which make up our population than 
signs lettered in either German or English. Thus, 
take for instance, 'The Black Bear,' a representa- 
tion of this animal was known at once to either 
German or Irishman, while the words 'Black 
Bear' would have troubled the former [and] the 
latter certainly would never have recognized his 
stopping place if the sign bore the legend 'Der 
Schwartze Bar.' Secondly, but few of the teams- 
ters or wagoners, irrespective of race, could read ; 
nearly all had their orders to stop at certain 
houses, and they knew them by the [picture on 
the] signboard when they came to them." 

"The American House" at the intersec- 
tion of Greenwich and Main streets, has a 
briefer history. The present fine "flat-iron" 
building of brick, replaces an older struc- 
ture of stone, which was built over sixty 
years ago, by Philip Bobst, who served as 
first landlord. During the Civil War and 
aiLerward Peter Krause was the proprietor. 
Later landlords were : Benjamin Leiby, 
Jonas Billig, John Gernerd, John Wagaman, 
Henry Bauer, Allen Gernerd, and Wilson 
Hoch, in the old hotel. The present pro- 
prietors, William and Charles Hoch, rent 
the new building from its owner, John 
Barbey, of Reading, who bought the old 
house from Allen Gernerd and, in 1908, 
erected the new structure. 

"The Keystone House," on the southeast 
corner of Main and White Oak streets, is 
the largest of the hotels in town. Erected 
in 1859 by Henry Sanders it is less im- 
portant, historically, than the older and 
smaller hotels of the town. Henry Sanders 
was the first landlord and owner as well. 



Its ownership passed into the hands of Dr. 
J. S. Trexler, who remodeled and greatly 
improved it. After the death of Doctor 
Trexler it was sold to John Barbey, the 
wealthy brewer of Reading. Among the 
bonifaces of this hotel mention may be made 
of: Lewis Custer, Allen Steinberger, Wil- 
liam Keim, James Frey, Joseph Levan, 
Frank Kurtz, Harry Schmoyer, Daniel 
Dries, and the present proprietor. Worth 
Dries. 

Where Sharadin and Sharadin's depart- 
ment store now stands, northeast corner of 
Main and White Oak streets, there was, in 
early times, a tavern kept by Charles Levan, 
of unsavory fame, whose family lias long 
since died out or removed from this section 
of the country. The house was a pebble- 
dashed stone building. There was strife 
between the tavern-keeper, who was com 
monly accused of various deeds of dark- 
ness and violence, and the Lutheran pastor 
of St. John's Union Church. When Pfarrer 
Knoske, Lutheran pastor of St. John's, 
would hold communion in the church, the ir- 
reverent landlord would line the "rummies" 
of town about his bar and to them sacrilig- 
iously "dealt out communion, ""^ as he is re- 
ported to have said. Shortly before his 
death, terrified at the prospect, he sent for 
the preacher in order to make confession. 
The minister declined to hear in private and 
sent for "Squire" Graflf, (foster father of 
John G. Wink) and to the two the dying 
man acknowledged his misdeeds. So far as 
known the preacher and the justice never di- 
vulged the incidents of the grewsome tale 
they heard that day. After the death of Le- 
van the old hotel was torn down. On its site 
Charles Fauber erected the brick structure 
now the store, and in it for some years kept 
hotel. Failing in his undertaking, he sold 
out to Heidenreich and Kutz, who changing 
the building to a store, were the first of a 
long line of merchants doing business there. 
Fauber went to the Washington House as 
proprietor, as has been related, and some 
years later moved to Reading. 



i"Nachtmol aus gedehlt." 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



57 



NOTED VISITORS 



Besides the noted visitors of whom men- 
tion has been made in earher pages there 
passed through the town or visited it for a 
short time other distinguished personages, 
both in the stage coach daj^s and in more 
recent times. i. 

In 1833 President Martin Van Buren 
was guest for a single meal at the Wash- 
ington House, kept at that time by Chris- 
tian Kupp. In the same year Col. Richard 
M. Johnson, then Vice-President of the 
United States, was in the town, making a 
speech that was "vociferously cheered." He 
was a noted orator from the South, had 



in the town, a guest at Fister's Washington 
House, which was long the favorite stop- 
ping place of wayfaring statesmen. 

After the railroad came there were yet 
other great men who honored the town with 
their presence. In October, 1873, the great 
editor, Horace Greeley, then Democratic 
candidate for the presidency of the United 
States, was the guest of Col. T. D. Fister 
for two days, while he made two addresses, 
one at the fair and one in the Normal 
School. 

In 1874, the Hon. Alexander Ramsey, 
once teacher in Kutztown, in the old Frank - 




been colonel of a Kentucky regiment, had 
fought along with General Harrison against 
the Indians, and had gained fame because 
of his reputed killing of the great chief, 
Tecumseh. (Was he the "Buckeye Black- 
smith" spoken of on a preceding page?) 

In 1836 Kutztown was visited by Gover- 
nor Joseph Ritner, the Hon. H. A. Muhlen- 
berg, and General William Henry Harrison. 
Coming from Easton they were entertained 
at the Fauber Hotel. "In the evening after 
supper, 'Old Tippecanoe' made a two-hour 
speech, after which he was entertained at 
a banquet at which Mine Host Fauber pre- 
sented a 'Spohn Seicha' with a red apple 
in his mouth which the old hero enjoyed 
heartily." 

There is tradition to the effect that James 
Buchanan, before he became president was 



lin Academy, then United States Senator 
from Minnesota, at various times Governor 
of Minnesota, and Secretary of War and 
Secretary of the Navy under President R. 
B. Hayes, revisited the scenes of his early 
days and addressed the concourse at the 
fair. Other notable orators coming to 
Kutztown for the purpose last named were 
Gov. John F. Hartranft, Hon. David C. 
Humphreys, then Chief Justice of the Dis- 
trict Court of the District of Columbia, and 
in more recent times Governor Harmon, of 
Ohio. Some years ago Governor Beaver, 
of Pennsylvania, was entertained a" a pub- 
lic banquet at the Washington House, by 
the late Walter B. Bieber. To name all 
the great men who have passed through 
or visited the town in the years of its exist- 
ence would take no little space. 



58 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



EFFORTS TO MAKE KUTZTOWN A COUNTY SEAT 



As previously remarked the territor)' em- 
braced in Kutztown was at the time of its 
purchase by Peter Wentz, a part of, or be- 
Ueved to be a part of, New Castle county. 
Later it was found to be in Philadelphia 
county when the boundaries of that coun- 
ty were more strictly determined. On 
March ii, 1752, by a law enacted by the 
Assembly of Pennsylvania Berks county 
was erected out of parts of Philadelphia, 
Chester and Lancaster counties, the portion 
east of the Schuylkill, in which lie Kutz- 
town and Maxatawny, being carved from 
Philadelphia county. At that time the new 
county of Berks (called after Berkshire in 
England) extended to the Susquehanna riv- 
er and included about one-tenth of the en- 
tire area of the province, about fiw times 
the present area of the county. In twenty 
years (1772) three-fifths of Berks county 
was cut off and made part of the new 
county of Northumberland with its county 
seat at Shamokin, at the junction of the 
north and west branches of the Susquehan- 
na, where some fifteen years before had been 
erected Fort Augusta, conspicuous during 
the French and Indian War. When Sha- 
mokin was made the county seat the name 
was changed to Sunbury. Many years later 
the present town of Shamokin, eighteen 
miles east of Sunbury, was laid out. 

About forty years later, 181 1, Berks 
county suffered reduction in area once more. 
The territory beyond the North or Blue 
Mountain was erected into Schuylkill coun- 
ty, so named from the river, the head waters 
of which are in that section. 

For nearly forty years after this last 
reduction of territory efiforts were made 
from time to time to have new counties 
formed from parts of Berks, or from a part 
of Berks and parts of other counties. The 
agitation for these projects was largely 
centered in Kutztown. In 1824 an effort 
was made to form a new county, to be 
known as Penn county, out of the following 
townships : Albany, Greenwich, Windsor 
(part), Maidencreek (part), Richmond, 
Maxatawny, Longswamp, Rockland, Rus- 
•combmanor (part), and Oley (part) 
Kutztown was to be the county seat. Great 
opposition developed, which, together with 
the disagreement of the advocates of a 
new county, some of whom favored the 
above-mentioned scheme, others of whom 
desired that the new county should be corn- 
nosed of parts of Berks, Montgomery, 
Chester, and Lancaster, while still a third 



party wanted a part of Berks cut off and 
annexed to Lehigh county, led to ihe fail- 
ure of the scheme. This failure, however, 
did not quench the spirit of those clamor- 
ing for division. 

In 1825 the agitation was continued, 
gaining such strength that the advocates 
of dismemberment of Berks county succeed- 
ed in having three bills presented to the 
Legislature : 

1. To erect parts of Berks int.^ a new 
county, with Kutztown as the county seat. 

2. To erect part of Berks and Mont- 
gomery into a new county, with Potts- 
town as the county seat. 

3. To erect part of Berks, Chester and 
Lancaster into a new county, with Church- 
town as the county seat. 

Besides the three propositions represent 
ed by these bills there was a fourth pro- 
posal, getting no farther than the circula- 
tion of petitions, for the annexation of part 
of Berks to Lebanon. The diveisity of 
desire added to the vigorous opposition 
developed at Reading and all throagh the 
county led to the failure of these plans. 

But the proposition was not altogether 
given up. For thirteen years the matter 
was in abeyance. Then, in January 1838, 
agitation was revived with increased in- 
tensity. Almost daily the Legislature heard 
either petitions for a new county or remons- 
trances against division. Feeling ran high. 
Besides the propositions made in 1825 a 
fourth one, to erect a new countv, to be 
called Windsor, out of parts of Berks and 
Schuylkill, had quite a following and bills 
for all the four were presented to the Leg- 
islature. 

In March 1838 the scheme for Penn 
county with Kutztown as the county seat 
came very nearly winning out. On the 
second of that month the bill for Penn 
county came to a vote in the Assembly. 
Thirty-nine members voted aye and thirty- 
nine said nay. The cause was defeated by 
the vote and influence of Samuel Fegely, a 
member from Maxatawny, who declared 
himself opposed. His opposition coupled 
with "his pleasing personal appearance and 
acknowledged good character" had great 
weight with the Legislature and, drubtless, 
led some, who otherwise might have fav- 
ored the bill to vote against it. For his at- 
titude in the matter Fegelv was scathinglv 
denounced by his fellow citizens of Kutz 
town and vicinity. Their indignation was 
so great that they made an effigy of their 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



59 



representative, hung it up in the square, and 
burned it, executing a war dance as it was 
being consumed. He was considered a 
traitor to his home town, and had bestowed 
upon him the sobriquet of "Hull," because, 
as they said, he was like General Hull who, 
during the War of 1812, had surrendered 
Detroit to the British without attempting a 



House to the Senate where he served two 
terms — 1841 to 1846. 

He was succeeded in the House by Daniel 
B. Kutz, of Kutztown, who, in February 
1 84 1, introduced another bill for the erec- 
tion of a new county out of parts of Berks 
and Lehigh, also with Kutztown as county 
seat. By this scheme fourteen townships 




Modern Homes on Lower Main Street 



defence. This epithet he bore until his 
death. But he had chosen wisely so far as 
his own interests were concerned. His ac- 
tion made for him fast friends among the 
politicians at Reading and in the parts of 
the county where the new county scheme 
was in disfavor, and his new friends soon 
rewarded him by promoting him from the 



were to be cut from Berks. The bill, how- 
ever, was promptly tabled. Various other 
efforts were made until, in November 1849, 
the people of Hamburg caught the fever 
and wanted their town to be the county 
seat, and in March 1852, the folks of Bern- 
ville demanded the same for their town. 
Finally the agitation ceased. 




^^" 



6o 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



LAYING OUT OF KUTZTOWN 



Mention has already been made (p. 20) 
of the laying out of the town in 1779, by 
George Kiitz, who had purchased on June 
16, 1755, a tract of 130 acres of land along 
the Saucony from the heirs of the original 
patents. As the story of the Easton Road 
has probably led the reader to conclude, 
Kutz recognized the advantageousness of 
the crossing of the Saucony as a town site. 
While, as the Schultz map shows, there 
were no houses on the site of Kutztown 
in 1755, there were evidently some, per- 
haps a number at the time Kutz laid out 
his purchase. Why Kutz waited for twent}^- 
four years before laying out this town can- 
not now be told. Perhaps the develop- 



Dietrich, and six in-lots and eleven out- 
lots to Henry Schweier, the inn-keeper. 
About the same time seventy-fonr acres 
and one hundred perches (of the one hund- 
red and thirty acres bought by George Kutz 
from Jacob Wentz, June 16, 1755) passed 
into the hands of George Kutz, Jr. Short- 
ly before 1800 the ownership of the town 
passed to Peter Kohler. 

Early Kutztown consisted of two parts, 
Kutztown proper, and Freetown. Freetown 
extended west from Baldy's Lane, or Baldy 
street, as it is now called. Freetown was 
an addition laid out after the laying out 
of the older part of the town. The lots 
in this addition were sold outright having 




Ol,d Landmark, forme;ri,y the Henry Peterson Home, West Whiteoak St. 



ment of the settlement on the Saucony was 
such that he deemed it wise to lay plans for 
the change of a straggling hamlet to an 
orderly town. However that may be, he 
laid out the town in February 1779. The 
plan embraced one hundred and eight in- 
lots and one hundred and five out-lots, "all 
of which were subject to a perpetual ground 
rent. The lots located on Front, or Main 
street, were fifty feet wide and one hundred 
and sixty feet deep, subject to a rental of 
five shillings and three pence. On the [in-] 
lots on White Oak and other streets of the 
original town the rental was two shillings 
and 9 pence, and on the out-lots five shill- 
ings. In 1785, as has been stated, seven in- 
lots and ten out-lots were sold to Adam 



no ground rents attached. From this cir- 
cumstance the name was derived — Free- 
town. Freetown seems to have been L- 
shaped, a portion of the present south- 
ern part of the town as well as that west 
of Baldy's Lane not being encumbered 
with ground rents. Baldy's Lane was 
so named after a blacksmith named Bal- 
dy (or Baity) who lived there. In Kutz- 
town proper ground rents were paid for 
many years. The first payment was May 
27, 1779- Gradually most of these rents 
have been extinguished. A few, howeyer, 
are still paid or were paid until (jLiite re- 
cently. 

In 1800 the stone house, at the southwest 
corner of Main and Baldy streets, long 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



6i 



known as Siegfried's, now the property of 
H. H. Ahrens^ and recently almost entirely, 
except for the walls, modernized, was built 
by Adam Kutz who owned the land in Free- 
town on both sides of the street from Bal- 
dy's Lane to the western end of the bor- 
ough. The town grew slowly. Ermentrout 
says (1876) that in Freetown, on the north- 
ern side of Main street there had been built 
uo t.o 1830 only three houses, those of 
Messrs. Baldy, Sander, and Strasser. 

George Kutz, the founder of Kutztown, 
died within a few years after he had laid 
out the town, prior to April 22, 1788, on 
which date his will, of which a copy is sub- 
joined, was certified to by George Fister 
and Tacob Herman before Register Cor- 
p.mme Henry Christ in his office at Read- 
ing. 



WILL OF GEORGE KUTZ 
In the Name of God, Amen. 

I, George Kutz of Maxatawny Township, Berks 
County, and state of Pennsylvania, being weakly 
in body but of sound mind and memorj', blessed 
be God for the same, and calling to mind the 
uncertainty of this transitory life and that it is 
ordained once for all mankind to die, do hereby 
make and ordain, this to l:e my last will and 
testament in manner and form following: — 

First : — I bequeath my body to the earth from 
whence it was taken, in sure and certain hope of 
a Resurrection with the just when all things 
have their final end and that my burial be in a 
Christian like manner without pomp at the dis- 
cretion of my executors. 

Second : — It is my will that after my decease 
my funeral expenses and just debts be first paid 
out of my estate. 

Imprimis : — I give and bequeath unto my be- 
loved wife Mary Margaret, one bed, bed Bedstead 
and bedding thereunto belonging the one we now 
lie on, all the household furniture and likewise 
the kitchen furniture, cow to be at her own dis- 
posal and to do with as she pleases — also yearly 
and every year so long as she lives, the sum of 
five pounds to be paid her by my executors, viz : 
on the first day of June, yearly the first payment 
to be made in one year after my decease, to be 
paid over to her out of the rents accruing from 
my town called Kutztown. But if she should 
marry then the said yearly rent or sum of five 
pounds to cease and determine and revert to the 
owner of said town. 

Item : — I give and bequeath unto my son George 
Kutz the sum of five shilings ,to be paid him by 
my executors in one year after my decease. 

Item : — I give and bequeath unto my daughter 
Madelina, the wife of Morton Keim, the sum of 
five shillings to be paid her at the end of one 
year after my decease. 

Item : — I give and bequeath unto my daughter 
Mary Kutz, my new house in my town called 
Kutztown with one out lot belonging thereto 



^See lower cut on page 36. 



together with all that tract or piece of land 
lying to the northward of said town, bounded 
by the town lots and out lots, land of Jacob 
Kutz and land of my son George Kutz and of land 
late of Jacob Levan containing by estimation 
about twenty acres be the same more or less 
with its appurtenances, to hold to her the said 
Mary Kutz and the heirs of her body lawfully 
begotten to her, and their own proper use and 
behoof forever always excepting and reserving 
the mill dam and mill race, privilege for the use 
of the mill forever but if my daughter Mary 
should die before she marries or without issue 
then said home lots of ground and said land 
shall be valued by three indifferent persons, and 
the valuation thereof shall be divided between 
my other children each and equal share and my 
son George shall have the refusal of said land 
and house if he chooses to accept of it at said 
valuation. If he will not accept of it, then my 
son Dewalt shall have the refusal thereof, if he 
sees fit, to keep it at such valuation : then he shall 
pay to his brother and sister then living or their 
heirs their respective shares agreeable to such 
valuation and on payment of the same shall hold 
and enjoy the same as his own proper right and 
estate and the heirs of his body lawfully be- 
gotten to him and their use and behoof forever 
and if my son George accept of it then he shall 
pay to his brother and sister if living their re- 
spective shares according to such valuation and 
to their heirs, if not living, and hold and enjoy 
the same as his own proper right and estate for 
him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten 
to him and their own proper use and behoof 
forever. 

Item : — I give and bequeath unto my son Dewalt 
above named all and singular my town called 
Kutztown situate in the Township of Maxatawny 
aforesaid with all the appurtenances thereunto 
belonging, in lots and out lots, except the lot 
above mentioned bequeathed unto my daughter 
Mary as the same is now laid out and settled 
agreeable to the plan thereof with all the rents, 
ground issue, and profits thereof, which is yearly 
to be paid ; the possession thereof to hold to him, 
the said Dewalt, his heirs and the heirs of his 
body lawfully begotten to him, and their own 
proper use and behoof forever. But if my son 
Dewalt should die before he marries or without 
issue then the sums arising from said town shall 
be equally divided year and every year among 
my other children then living, each an equal share, 
vmtil my son Georges eldest son shall arrive to 
the age of twenty one years, if he has male issue. 
But if my son George shall have no male issue, 
then after his decease the said town shall be 
sold by public auction or vendue to the highest 
bidder free and clear of all ground rents, and 
the money arising b" virtue of said sale shall be 
equally divided amongst the heirs then living, 
that if my son George should have male issue 
then his eldest son at the age of twentj' one 
years shall hold and enjoy the said town and 
receive the rents, issue and profits thereof for 
him and his wife and behoof and the heirs of 
his body lawfully begotten as fully and amply as 
mv son Dewalt shall hold the same in his life 
time. 

And further I hereby nominate, constitute 
and appoint my well beloved and trusty friends 
George Kemp and Jeremiah Wills mv true and 
lawful executors of this my last will and tes- 
tament, giving and granting them full authority 
by virtue of this my last will and testament to 
make, seal, and deliver any deed or conveyance 



62 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



or other lawful instrument in writing to the 
holder and possession of my lots in said town 
that shall not be conveyed to the owner and 
possession thereof at the time of my decease 
and giving and granting them fiall power and 
authority to make, seal, and deliver and convey 
unto my daughter Mary and my son Dewalt 
deeds of lawful conveyance for their respective 
holdings above mentioned as well as for the 
respective above mentioned if not conveyed be- 
fore my deecase, fully and amply and to be of 
as full force, as if I myself had conveyed them 
or were personally present, hereby ratifying this 
and revoking all others, do declare this to be 
my last will and testament. 

Signed, sealed and deliv- 
ered, published and declared 
and pronounced to be my last 
will and testament. GEORGE KUTZ 

(Seal) 

N. B. — The yearly issue of five pounds men- 



tioned to be paid before by my executors in the 
presence of us : 

George Fister. 

Jacob Herman. 

Register's office at Reading in Berks County, 
April 22nd, 1788 appeared George Fister and 
Jacob Herman, witnesses to the above written 
will, and upon their solemn oath did severally 
depose and say that they were present, saw and 
heard George Kutz the testator therein named 
sign, seal, pronounce, publish and declare the 
above writ to be his last will and testament and 
that at the time of doing thereof he was of sound 
mind, memory and understanding as they verily 
believe and that the names of said deponents by 
them respectively subscribed thereto as wit- 
nesses is each his own proper handwriting done 
in the presence of each other at the request of 
and in the presence of the said testator. 

CoRAMME Henry Christ, Rcgr. 



KUTZTOWN IN THE WAR OF 1812 



During the War of 1812 a company of 
volunteers, one hundred and thirty in num- 
ber, was recruited in and around Kutz- 
town. Gabriel Old, a Lutheran, a deacon 
of St. John's Union Church, was captain. 
John Fisher^ was first lieutenant. Other 
officers were: William Shook, ensign; Ru- 
dolph Meislin, Isaac Levan, William Graefl:, 



Baltimore. Arriving at the Susq-.iehanna, 
Columbia bridge, the company was reduced 
in number b}^ the transfer of thirty of the 
men to an other company. Nearing York 
"they heard the thunder of the enemies' 
cannon but their courage waxed the strong- 
er. • For their services they received no 
pay, but afterwards a 3-early pension of 




B. Armor, sergeants ; Daniel Graeff, John 
Witman, Jacob Lehman, Jacob Longbein, 
corporals ; Jonas Fre3der and William Marx- 
musicians. 

These volunteers left their homes some- 
time in August, 1814, for the seat of war at 




^Ermentrout says "John Fister.' 



ninety-six dollars. Sometimes for three 
entire days they had nothing to eat, and. 
at night, they slept beneath the canopy of 
the heavens, without any cover except that 
which the night air wove about them." 
(Ermentrout). In 1876 the only two sur- 
viving members of the company were Dan- 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



63 



iel Graefif, of Kutztown, and Michael De- 
Long, of Longswamp. 

The following additional items concern- 
ing" the participation in this war by citizens 
of this section have been collected : 

David Hottenstine was brigadier general of the 
Second Brigade, 1812. (Query — was he a Maxa- 
awny Hottenstein?). Caotain Gabriel Old's com- 
pany was in Lieutenant-Colonel John Lorz's regi- 
ment, — Second Regiment, Second Brigade. 

The following names of soldiers from this sec- 
tion of the county are found in the muster roll 
of Captain John May's company, First Regiment, 
Second Brigade, commanded by Lieut. Col. Jere- 
miah Shappell, of Windsor township : Abraham 
Kummerer, David Kochel, Daniel Eijenhauer, 
David Marckel, and John Will, all of Greenwich 
township. 

In the muster roll of Capt. John Mauger's com- 
pany. First Regiment are the names of : Dewalt 
Barrall, Maxatawny : Daniel Bachman, Rich- 
mond : Jacob Breshall, Greenwich ; Joseph Christ- 
man, Greenwich ; Peter Folk, Greenwich ; Jacob 
George, Greenwich ; John Hains, Richmond ; 
Daniel Heffner, Richmond : Michael Kaiip, Max- 
atawny : Henry Koehler, Greenwich : George 
Koehler, Greenwich : Daniel Luckins, Greenwich : 
John Poh, Greenwich : Tohn Schoene", Long- 
swamp : Peter Sidler, Richmond ; and John Sie- 
der, Greenwich. 

In the company of Captain Henry Witlotz, 
(Shappell's First Regiment) were: Joseph Brit- 
on, Longswamp ; Dewalt Bast, Maxatawny ; Sam- 
uel Bover, Richmond ; John Eck, Longswamp 
Andrew Mcmickens, Longswamp ; Jacob Neaud 
race, Maxatawny ; Michael Niess, Longswamp 
Tohn Rothermal, Richmond : and Jacob Shell 
Richmond. 

In Captain Jonathan Jones' company, (Shap- 
pell's regiment) Henry Hallibach, Greenwich, 
was the only one enrolled from this section. 

In the roster of Captain George Ritter's com- 
pany, same regiment, the names of the follow- 
ing soldiers are found : Jacob Brown, Rockland ; 
John Beam, Rockland ; Henry Berger, Rockland ; 
John Becker, Rockland ; Peter Donberd, Long- 
swamp ; John Emrich, Rockland ; Engel Fox. 
Rockland : Michael Gruber, Rockland : Henry 
Hemig, Rockland ; George Heist, Rockland : Peter 
Leas, Rockland ; John Paulies, Rockland ; and 
Herman Ruppert, Rockland. 

Captain Gabriel Old's company was almost 
entirely from this section. Its muster roll at 
York, "from September I, 1814, to March s, 1815, 



was : Officers— Gabriel Old, captain, Longswamp ; 
John Fisher, lieutenant, Maxatawny ; William 
Shook, ensign, Greenwich; Rudolph Meislin, first 
sergeant, Richmond ; Isaac Levan, second ser- 
eeant, Maxatawny; William Graefif, third se)- 
geant, Maxatawny: George Amor, fourth ser- 
geant, Richmond ; Daniel Graefif, first corporal, 
Maxatawny : John Witman, second corporal, 
Richmond; Jacob Layman, third corporal, Maxa- 
tawny ; Jacob Longbien, fourth corporal, Maiden- 
creek; Jonas Freyler, fifer, Longswamp' William 
Marx, drummer, Maxatawny. 

Privates: — William Addam, Longswamp; Jon- 
athan Aker, Maxatawny; Abraham Biehl, Maxa- 
towny: Samuel Bushy, Maxatawny; Abraham 
Boyer, Rockland ; John Bowman, Maidencreek , 
Andrew Brown, Maidencreek; George Braish, 
Maxatawny; Daniel Boyer, Richmond-; Ja- 
cob Danner, Longswamp; Michael DeLong, 
Maxatawny; William Dox, Maxatawny; George 
Esser, Maxatawny; Jacob Eisenhart, Long- 
swamp; John Fisher, Maxatawny; Jacob Fish- 
er, Maxatawny; George Fegeley, Maxatawny; 
Adam Flower, Longswamp ; Samuel Flower, 
Maidencreek; Peter Folk, Longswamp; William 
Frasher, Richmond ; John Frimot, Maxatawny ; 
Jacob Glauser, Rockland ; Jonas Gilgart, Maid- 
encreek; Valentine Geist, Longswamp: Joseph 
Hofifman, Rockland: Gideon Hoffman, P.uscomb- 
manor; Peter Hill, Richmond: Jacob Honsknecht, 
Greenwich; Jeremiah Hughes, Richmond; John 
Ke.yker, Maxatawfiy : Benjamin Kercher, Maxa- 
atawny: Jacob Kieffer, Longswamp; Tohn 
Kimerling, Ruscombmanor : Tacob Kemp, Rich 
mond ; Samuel Kemp, Richmond ; Andrew 
Kaup, Maxatawny; Nicholas Kreisher, Mai- 
dencreek ; Daniel Long, Longswamp ; Abra- 
ham Litweilor, Longswamp ; Reuben Leiby, Max- 
atawny; John Minker, Richmond: Henry Min- 
ker, Richmond : Philip Miller, Richmond : John 
Noll,. Richmond: George Old, Greenwich; Jacob 
Polsgrove, Longswamp; John Reeder, Maxa- 
tawny; Henry Raff [RappL Maxatawny; John 
Roof [Rapp], Maxatawny: David Rauzan FRau- 
enzahnl, Richmond; Christopher Rauzan [Rau- 
enzahn], Richmond ; Moses Reifsnyder, Ruscomb- 
manor; Tohn Reininger, Ruscombmanor: George 
Stroup, Maxatawny ; Samuel Stout, Maidencreek ; 
Tacob Shaffer. Maidencreek: Nathan Shaffer, 
Longswamp: Tohn Strome, Richmond: William 
Simons, Longswamp: John K. Snyder, Rich- 
mond ; John Snyder, Greenwich ; Andrew Smith, 
Maidencreek; Michael Sherer, Greenwich; Jacob 
Wisser, Maxatawny; Jacob Winter, Maiden- 
creek; Henry Weaver, Longswamp; George 
Woulison, Maidencreek; Peter Weaver. Green- 
wich: Daniel Young, Ruscombmanor; Benjamin 
Ziegler, Longswamp. 




64 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



KUTZTOWN BOROUGH 



By this time Maxatawny township was 
becoming- thickly settled and the village on 
the Saucony had grown to be a town of 
considerable size. The citizens of the thriv- 
ing town along the Easton Road grew im- 
patient of township government and clam- 
ored for separate government to be had 



only by the erection of the town into a 
borough. By a special Act of Assembly, 
this took place on March i, 1815. The 
necessary officers were elected at a town 
meeting held April 7, at the house of Dan- 
iel Levan, and the government was actually 




Row OF Homes in New Kutztown, Formerly Park Avenue 




West Walnut Street, Looking' East 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



65 



established by the first meeting of Town 
Council, April 15, 1815. Kutztown thus 
became the second borough in the county, 
Reading, which was the first, being erected 
in 1783. 



THE FIRST HOUSE 

The date of erection of the first house in 
Kutztown is uncertain. Tradition asserts 
that it was built by George Esser, great 
grandfather to Jacob B. Esser, former pro- 
prietor of "The Kutztown Journal" and 
"The Kutztown Patriot." One writer 
thinks it likely that the house was put up 
"before the land was patented in 1728." 
This is, however, a most unlikely suppo- 



tion of the row of brick houses now abut- 
ting on the street in that section. In 1857 
the building was torn down. Quite recent- 
ly workmen digging post holes for a fence 
on the lot of Mrs. Nathan S. Kemp and 
Llewellyn Angstadt came upon a buried 
wall, probably the foundation of this first 
house, though possibly in its second loca- 
tion. 

The accompanying picture is said by the 
older people of the town, who remember 
the house well, to be an accurate presenta- 
tion of the appearance of the old struc- 
ture, especially in its later years. Like 
most other houses of the early settlers, 
this building was a rude and humble one, 
of logs. The pen-picture of the home of 
the pioneer drawn by the late Rev. Dr. F. J. 




The First House in Kutztown 



sition, one practically proved to be un- 
founded, because Schultze's map of the 
Easton Road, 1755, which gives the loca- 
tion of houses of early settlers all along 
the road, gives no indication of any build- 
ing standing at that time in the area now 
covered b)^ Kutztown. It does, however, 
show the Saucony, a bridge over it, and the 
road with all its turns. In addition to this 
consideration, examination of lists of tax- 
ables in Maxatawn}' township for those 
times fails to show the name of any person 
by the name of Esser. 

This house is said to have stood on the 
south side of East jMain street, somewhat 
west of the present J. Daniel Sharadin resi- 
dence. In 1 85 1 it was sold to David Fister 
and John G. Wink, who removed it to the 
rear of the lot to make way for the erec- 



F. Schantz, applies well to this first Kutz- 
town house: 

"ihe first log house was a very plain 
construction. Its sides were of logs; the 
openings between the logs were filled with 
clay, often mixed with grass. Windows 
were of small dimensions. Doors were of- 
ten of two parts, an upper and a lower, 
hung or fastened separately. The interior 
was frequently only one room, with hearth 
and chimney, with a floor of stone or hard- 
ened clay, with steps or a ladder leading 
to the attic, with roughly constructed tables 
and benches, shelving on the walls and 
wooden pegs driven into the logs. . . . 
The pioneer's house was not complete with- 
out the large fireplace, often in the center 
of the building and very often on one side 
of the house, with hearth and chimnev 



66 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



erected outside the building, yet joining the 
same." 

This first house on the site of Kutztown 
was a typical German house. Dr. Johann 
David Schoepf, in his ""Travels in the Con- 
federation" (1783-1784, pubHshed 1788), 
says : 

"The roofs hereabouts are made of shin- 
gles, for the most part after the German 
manner — the shingles of one thickness 
throughout and laid touching each other 
merelv at the sides. The English custom 
is to make the shingles thinner at one 
edge, so that the edge of one overlaps that 
of the next. From the exterior appear- 
ance, especially the plan of the chimneys. 



it could be pretty certainly guessed whether 
the house was that of a German or of an 
English family — if of one chimney only, 
placed in the middle, the house should be 
a German's and furnished with stoves, the 
smoke from each led into one flue and so 
taken off; if of two chimneys, one at each 
gable end there should be fireolaces, after 
the EngHsh plan." {\'o\. i. p. 125). 

It may be added as a matter of interest 
that the house and lot on which it stood 
was at one time owned and occupied by 
^^"illiam ^larx, who had been a drummer 
boy during the Revolutionary Wslt and who 
was the great-grandfather of the late James 
H. ^Marx, Esq. 



THE BOROUGH INCORPORATED 



Kutztown was incorporated as a borough 
:\Iarch I, 1815, by An Act of the Legis- 
lature, .\ct similar to the Act of 1783, by 
which Reading was incorporated into a 
borough. Henry Heist and Jacob Levan 
were appointed to super^'ise the first elec- 
tion at the house of Daniel Levan. Henry 
Heist was elected burgess. The other 
officers were : Town Council, Jacob Levan. 
Esq.. Cpresident), Moth Wilson, Dewalt 



Wink. Peter Gift, George Fister, Jonathan 
Grim, and John Kutz ; Jacob Levan (mer- 
chant), treasurer: James Scull, town clerk; 
Solomon Kutz, collector ; Jacob Humbert 
and George Breyfogel. supervisors ; George 
Bieber and Thomas Lightfoot. regulators ; 
Jacob Graff, High Constable. 

The following Hst comprises the Chief 
Bureesses and Town Clerks since 1816: 



Ter 
1816- 
1818 
1819 
1820 
1822 
1823 
1824 
1825-26 

1827 •• 

1828 .. 

1829 .. 

1830 . . 

1831 .. 

1832 .. 

1833 •■ 

1834 .. 

1835 • • 

1836 .. 

1837 •■ 

1838 .. 

1839 .. 

1840 . . 

1841 .. 

1842 .. 

1843 ■• 
1&44 •• 
184.S . . 

1846 .. 

1847 .. 

1848 .. 

1849 ■■ 



Burgess Clerk 

17 Dewalt Bieber James Scull 

Daniel Levan John Fister 

George Bre}fogel John Fister 

21 George Breyfogel James Donagan 

Henrv Heist James Donagan 

John Kutz James Donagan 

Jonathan Prime Lloyd Wharton 

John Palsgrove James Donagan 

Jacob Esser James Donagan 

Geo. A. Odenheimer James Donagan 

John Fister James Donagan 

Daniel Bieber James Donagan 

John Palsgrove James Donagan 

John Fister James Donagan 

Peter Gift Henry Heist 

John Fister James Donagan 

John Fister George Bieber 

\\"illiam Heidenreich George Bieber 

Peter Gift Wm. F. Sellers 

George Bieber Wm. F. Sellers 

Daniel Bieber Wm. F. Sellers 

John V. Houck Wm. F. Sellers 

Dr. William Bieber David X'eff 

William Heidenreich David Xeff 

William Heidenreich George Hortzell 

Jacob Graeff Wm. S. Bieber 

George Bieber Wm. S. Bieber 

Daniel Bieber Wm. S. Bieber 

William Heidenreich Wm. S. Bieber 

Daniel Bieber Wm. S. Bieber 

David Fister Wm. S. Bieber 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



67 



S8 



Ten 

850 

8si 
852 

853 
854 
8S5 
856 
8.S7- 
859 
860 
861 
862 
863- 
86=- 
867 
868-69 

870 ... 

871 ... 

872 . . . 
873 
87s 
876 
87'' 
878 
879 
880 
88!-: 
883- 



64 
■66 



i-74 



887 



890 
891 
892 
893 
894 
895 
8g6 
897 



900 
go I 
902 

903 
004 
905 
go6 
907 
908 
909 
910 
911 
912 
913 
914 
915 



Burgess Clerk 

. Daniel B. Kutz Wm. S. Bieber 

. David Levari Wm. S. Bieber 

. Tacob Graeff Henry C. Kutz 

. Reuben Sharadin Wm. S. Bieber 

. John Fister James M. Gehr 

. Daniel B. Kutz H. B. VanScheetz 

■ Fayette Schaedler J. D. Wanner 

■ Hiram F. Bickel J. D. Wanner 

. J. S. Trexler James M. Gehr 

. B. H. Kutz J. D. Wanner 

■ William Helfrich J. D. Wanner 

• Jacob Sunday J. D. Wanner 

• C. H. Wanner J. D. Wanner 

■ David Fister J. D. Wanner 

• Dav-d Fister A. C. Beidelman 

• Paul Hilbert H. H. Schwartz 

• John Humbert H. H. Schwartz 

• David Fister J. D. Wanner 

• Lewis Hottenstein Jonas Hoch 

• J. D. Wanner H. H. Schwartz 

• Daniel Hinterleiter E. D. Bieber 

• S. S. Schmehl J. H. Marx 

• John M. Graeff J. H. Marx 

•R. Dewalt J. H. Marx 

• Walter B. Bieber J. D. Wanner 

. Walter B. Bieber J. H. Marx 

• D. W. Sharadin J. D. Wanner 

• D. i- . Bieber T. D. Wanner 

• Walter B. Bieber I. D. Wanner 

• Walter B. Bieber J. D. Wanner 

■ T. D. Sharadin j. D. Wanner 

. T. B. Esser J. D. Wanner 

. Dewalt F. Bieber T. D. Wanner 

. Reuben Dewalt J. D. Wanner 

. Conrad Gehring J. D. Wanner 

• Conrad Gehring J. D. Wanner 

• Conrad Gehring J. D. Wanner 

• Conrad Gehring T. 

. Conrad Gehring J. 

. Conrad Gehring J. D. Wanner 

. John R. Gonser H. W. Saul 

. Tohn R. Gonser H. W. Saul 

. John R. Gonser J. H. Marx 

• Chas. D. Herman J. H. Marx 

. Chas. D. Herman J. H. Marx 

. Chas. D. Herman Chas. R. Wanner 

• C. I. G. Christman Albert S. Heffner, Chas, R. Wanner 

. C. I. G. Christman Albert S. Heffner 

. C. I. G. Christman Albert S. Heffner 

. T. T. Fritch Albert S. Heffner 

. T. T. Fritch Albert S. Heffner 

. T. T. Fritch ■ Albert S. Heffner 

. T. T. Fritch Albert S. Heffner 

. H. W. Saul Albert S. Heffner 

. H. W. Saul Albert S. Heffner 

.H. W. Saul Albert S. Heffner 

.H. W. Saul Albert S. Heffner 

. N. Z. Dunkelberger Geo. W. Bieber 

. N. Z. Dunkelberger Geo. W. Bieber 



D. Wanner 
D. Wanner 



First Minutes of Town Councii^ 

April 15, 181 5 — At a meeting- of the 
town council present, Jacob Levan, Esq., 
Motheral Wilson, Dewalt Wink, Peter Gift, 
George Fister, Jonathan Grim and John 
Kutz, they having all previously taken the 
oath prescribed by law, proceeded to the 
election of their president, and the appoint- 
ment of their other officers, when Tacob 
Levan, Esq., was elected president; Tacob 
Levan, merchant, treasurer ; Tames Scull, 
town clerk, Solomon Kutz, collector ; Jacob 
Humbert and George Breyfogel, supervis- 



ors, 
burgess 



Mr. Heist who had been elected chief 
finding it contrary to an Act of 
Assembly that expressly points out that any 
oerson holding a post under the United 
States shall be incapable of holding office 
in this State ; Mr. Heist being the post- 
master in this place, cannot serve, he there- 
fore resigns. Adjournment to meet on the 
22nd instant. 

Stringent Regulations by Council 

January 29, 1818. First. No company 
or rabble of minors shall gather in streets. 



68 



CENTENNIAL HKSTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



lanes or alleys or in any public house or 
other place atter 8.30 in the evening during 
winter months or after 9 o'clock in sum- 
mer months, behaving in disorderly man- 
ner, disturbing the peace or spoiling or 
damaging any property. Fine $2.00, one 
half to go to informer and the other half 
to borough. 

Second. No person shall burn gun pow- 
der or any other material made ot powder 
or other combustibles, nor fire or discharge 
a gun or other firelock within the limits 
of Dorough, nor be found smoking segars 
after dusk. Fine, same as above. 

Ihird. Any person or persons found 
playing cards, dice or any other unlawful 
game m any public or private house or any 
other place or building shall be fined $4.00. 
The High Constable shall bring such offend- 
ers before the Chief Burgess. 

Fourth. The attention of persons al- 
lowing such irregularities in their homes 
shall be brought before the Judges of the 
Court of Common Pleas in the County of 
Berks. 

June 19, 1818, Council ordered and or- 
dained : 

First. That no person shall be suffered 
to make fire or burn carpenter's shavings 
or any other material whatever before their 
doors, in the streets, lanes or alleys, or on 
their premises within the limits of the bor- 
ough of Kutztown. Penalty, $2.00. 

Second. No tin or coppersmith or any 
other person shall be suffered to throw or 
carry pieces or fragments of tin before their 
doors, in the streets, lanes or alleys within 
the limits of said borough. Penalty, $2.00. 

Third. No bones, heads or feet of cat- 
tle or any other nuisance be suffered, be 
thrown to remain or suffered to putrify or 
be offensive in the streets, lanes or alleys 
within the borough. That every butcher 
or other persons on suffering or throwing 
such nuisance on their premises or before 
the doors in the streets, lanes or alleys, after 
ten days notice being given, shall pay a fine 
of $2.00. 

September 9, 1833, An Ordinance on 
Combustible Matches or Crackers : 

An ordinance was reported that no per- 
son or persons shall be allowed to sell or 
keep for sale any combustible matches, 
(commonly called crackers). 

Section i. Be it ordained and enacted 
by the inhabitants of the Borough of Kutz- 
town, and is hereby enacted by the author- 
ity of the same, that if any person or per- 
sons shall or does keep combustible matches 
for sale as aforesaid in the Borough of 



Kutztown, he shall pay a fine of Five Dol- 
lars. 

Section 2. And be it further ordained 
and enacted by the authority aforesaid that 
the penalties, tines and forfeitures mention- 
ed in this ordinance may be recovered as 
debts of equal amounts are by law recov- 
erable with costs of suit before any Justice 
of the Peace in said Borough, one moiety 
of which said fine or fines on a forfeiture 
shall be paid to the informer or prosecutor 
who shall receipt for the same and the other 
moiety thereof shall be paid into the hands 
of the treasurer for the use of the Borough 
aforesaid. 

The following statement of Kutztown 
comprises the first assessment roll of the 
borough for the year 1817 : 

Ang"stadt, Joseph, gunsmith 20 

Baity, Jacob, Sr., blacksmith 592 

Biehl, Daniel, tinman 90S 

Baity, Jacob, Jr., blacksmith 32 

Bryfogel, George, Sr., farmer 932 

Busby, Samuel, shoemaker 20 

Bieber, Dewald, merchant 1617 

Bast, Dewald, farmer .- 2904 

Becker, Ephriam, doctor 705 

Barner, Michael 390 

Benjamin, John, hatter 20 

Cupp, Conrad, town-crier 600 

»^upp, Andrew 150 

Cupp, Christian, cabinet-maker 20 

Dennis, John, shoe-maker 752 

Dum, Thomas 812 

Deisher, John 350 

Dennis, Jacob 

Ernst, Nicholas, farmer 1122 

Essert, Jacob, cabinet-maker 1384 

Essert, Daniel, cabinet-maker 20 

Essert, George, cabinet-maker 20 

Fister, George, inn-keeper 1572 

Fister, John, saddler 20 

Fritz, Peter, cabinet-maker 532 

Gross, Joseph 92 

Geehr, Philip, Esq., justice 32 

Gift, Peter, clock-maker 102 

Geehr, Benjamin, saddler 20 

Graff, Jacob, blacksmith 760 

Grube, Christina 350 

Glasser, Daniel, hatter 420 

Geschwind, John 

Geehr, Samuel, and Levan, Jacob .s8o 

Grim, Torathan 2852 

Geisweit, Peter, laborer 32 

Herbine, Samu"!, cooper 9S4 

Humberd, Jacob, carpenter 32 

Hottenstine, Catharine 682 

Heist, Henry 962 

Heninger, John, shoemaker 882 

Heirst, Hannah, widow Soo 

Harmony. Beniamin, tailor 32 

Jung, John, laborer 20 

Kutz, Peter, tinman 1272 

Kutz, Adam, caroenter 1762 

Kutz. Jacob, mason 32 

Kno«ke, John, minister 77^ 

Kacffer, Toseph 302 

Kutz, John, tailor 1077 

Keiser, Toseph 1037 

Kutz, Peter, Revolutionary soldier izog 

Kutz, Daniel 462 

Kemp. George, Jr 900 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



69 



Kohler, Henry, Prop, of Kutztown Hotel . . 1600 

Klein, Philip Soo 

Kaun, Andrew, wheelwright 20 

Klein, Jacob, tailor 20 

Klein, Isaac 430 

Keller, Osrael, shoemaker 20 

Kutz, Solomon, butcher 722 

Kister, George, tailor 820 

Keiser, Jacob, weaver 432 

Levan, Jacob, Esq 1107 

Lcvan, Daniel, inn-keeper 1602 

Levan, Jacob, inn-keeper 1923 

Lehman, Jacob, tinman 20 

Levan, Charles, inn-keeper 9.=; 

Levan, Isaac, inn-keeper 44 

McCandless, Robert 

Nefif, John, mason 1494 

Nevel, Jacob, laborer 

NefF, Henry, mason 692 

Nefif, Peter 1464 

Neudorf. Susanna, widow 420 

Owerbeck, Tacob, tobacconist 140 

Old. Gabriel, carpenter .32 

Paltzffrove, Tohn, weaver 854 

Rudenauer, Samuel 52 

Reifsnyder, Abram 20 

Rever, Adam 760 

Sharodin. John, hatter 1072 

Sander, Henrv 820 

Strasser, Michael, carpenter 70 



Seifffried, John, Sr 490 

Seigfried, John, Jr 50 

Selfridge, Mathias, merchant 32 

Schofield, Ebenezer, shoe-maker 232 

Smith, Catharine ("estate of) 300 

Till, Jacob, teacher 40 

Wolfif, Peter, laborer 20 

Wickert, Jacob, tailor 20 

Wilson, Motheral 21 to 

Wink, Dewald, hatter 744 

Wanner, Abram, hatter 1052 

SINGLlv FREEMEN 

Bast, Jacob 

Becker, Samuel 

Becker, Beniamin 

Essert, Jacob 

Glasser, Jonathan 

Mehrman, William 

Owerbeck, Henry 

O'Neal, David 

Odenheimer, George 

Smith, James, each 75 cents. 

Total valuation $56,465 

Rate, I % mills on dollar. 

George BryfogEl Assessor. 

Houses 69 

Horses 47 

Cows 63 




THE LAST ASSESSMENT 

The following Assessors' lists for 1915 will give some idea of the growth of Kutztown 
since the first assessment was made : 



VOTERS OF EAST WARD 

The voters in the First (or East) Ward are as 
follows : 

Adam, David A Contractor 

Adam, Edwin H Laborer 

Adam, Luther H Molder 

Adam, Isaac C Carpenter 

Adam, Percival Hostler 

Albright, Rob't P Teller Farmers Bank 

Angstadt, John F Merchant 

Angstadt, John H Shoemaker 



Angstadt, Llewellyn Postmaster 

Angstadt, Samuel N Teacher 

Angstadt, William Painter 

Arnold, Charles S Laborer 

Earner, Mayden Student 

Barto, Homer A Cigarmaker 

Barto, Milton Laborer 

Bast. Roger S Foreman 

Beck, Emanuel Yeoman 

Beck, Raymond E Silk Weaver 

Berger. Howard Motorman 

Betz, John Yeoman 



yo 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Bieber, Alfred Yeoman 

Bieber, Chas. O Laborer 

Bieber, Geo. K Laborer 

Bieber, Jeremiah Shoemaker 

Bieber, John W Apprentice 

Bieber, William Yeoman 

Blatt, Herbert Bar Clerk 

Bloch, Luther S Molder 

Bock, Salem J Machmist 

Boger, George W Clerk 

Bordner, Geo. C Professor K. S. N. S. 

Bortz, Arthur D Blacksmith 

Bortz, John R Painter 

Bower, William Laborer 

Boyer, Jacob A Laborer 

Boyer, Jacob K Retired Farmer 

Breininger, Alvin J Teacher 

Brown, William M Shirtmaker 

Brooks, Russell Clerk 

Butz, Amos A Laborer 

Christ, William S Merchant 

Christ, Edward H Clerk 

Christman, Fred. E Shoemaker 

Daniel, Charles O Laborer 

Dankel, Henry Car Cleaner 

Deisher, Henry K Manufacturer 

DeLong, Amandus F Foreman 

DeTurk, John D Teamster 

DeTurk, L. B Laborer 

DeTurk, Isaac L Merchant 

Dey, Wellington Laborer 

Dietrich, Milton L Shoemaker 

Dietrich, Lewis S Contractor 

Dietrich, Chas. B Laborer 

Dietrich, Charles H Collector 

Donmoyer, Wm. A Electrician 

Drey, Madison Laborer 

Dries, Samuel J Cigarmaker 

Dries, Daniel A Yeoman 

Dries, Wm. D Bar Clerk 

Dries, Worth A Propr. Keystone House 

Druckenmiller, B. D Propr. Restaurant 

Druckenmiller, H. L Clerk 

Eck, William S Agent 

Eckert, Walter S Molder 

Esser, Jacob B Yeoman 

Esser, Charles H Publisher 

Fegely, Charles S Hostler 

Fegely, Frank H Laborer 

Fegely, John G Shoemaker 

Fegely, Llewellyn Carpenter 

Fegley, Howard J Plumber 

Fisher, Charles M Merchant 

Fisher, Fred. J Machinist 

Fisher, Sealous G Painter 

Fister, Herman A Cashier Farmers Bank 

Fink, William Laborer 

Flexer, Wallace P .Laborer 

Fox, George Molder 

Fretz, Allen M Laborer 

Frey, Byron J Patternmaker 

Frey, George B Helper 

Frey, Phaon Baker 

Frey, Revere Laborer 

Fritch, Allen H Salesman 

Fritch, J. T Manufacturer 

Fritch, Verd C Shoemaker 

Fronheiser, Walter H Operator 

Fritz, Henry W Laborer 

Gaby, William S Shoemaker 

Geiger, Charles Painter 

Geiger, John D Shoemaker 

Glasser, David Laborer 

Greenawald, Manasses Laborer 

Greenawald, William '. Yeoman 

Grimley, O. Raymond Bookkeeper 

Hagenmeyer, A. W Engineer 

Hamm, Andrew Plasterer 



Hamm, George A Laborer 

Hamm, Fred. E Laborer 

Hartman, Jacob K Drover 

Hartman, William H Laborer 

Heckman, Silas Laborer 

Heffner, Albert S Surveyor 

Heffner, Charles H Laborer 

Hefifner, Milton H Superintendent 

Heinly, Harvey L Painter 

Heller, Oliver Laborer 

Herman, A. M Merchant 

Herman, Chas. D Merchant Tailor 

Herman, Quinton D Men's Furnishings 

Herman, Walter E Tailor 

Hilbert, Levi Laborer 

Hinkle, Harry L Laborer 

Hoch, Elias E. J ' Musician 

Hoch, Jacob C Teacher 

Hoch, Jefferson C Agent 

Hoch, Silas Laborer 

Hoch, Zach. C Pension Agent 

Homan, William C Patternmaker 

Hoffman, Frank B Motorman 

Holl, Mark D Baker 

Hoppes, Clinton Laborer 

Hottenstein, Ezra Yeoman 

Hottenstein, Charles D Laborer 

Hottenstein, James B Laborer 

Houck, Frank B Laborer 

Houck, Harry M Laborer 

Hunsicker, Achilles C Huckster 

James, David W Inspector 

Kemp, Charles F Shoemaker 

Kemp, Fred. S Shoe Cutter 

Kemp, James J Shoemaker 

Kemp, Jeremiah Foreman 

Kercher, Edwin H Conductor 

Kern, Harvey P Baker 

Kershner, Wm. J Silk Weaver 

Kieffer, Nicholas W Laborer 

Kieffer, Peter W Laborer 

Kieffer, Valentine M. Bar Clerk 

Keiter, Tames B Cigar Manufacturer 

King, William H Silk Weaver 

Kline, Daniel W Contractor 

Kline, Wm. D Shoemaker 

Kloop, Milton J Bricklayer 

Knittle, Isaac A Shoemaker 

Knittle, Jonathan S Implement Dealer 

Koch, Charles D Shoemaker 

Knittle, Alvin L Laborer 

Kohler, Adam Teamster 

Kohler, George B Retired Farmer 

Kohler, John C Music Teacher 

Kohler, John F Yeoman 

Kramer, Curtis E Silk Weaver 

Kramer, Frank A Butcher 

Kroninger, Elmer D Wheelwright 

Kroninger, Irvin D Typewriter 

Krusie. Edwin Shoemaker 

Kutz, George M Laborer 

Lambert, Joseph D Conductor 

Lambert, Joseph F Drover 

Leibensperger, C. J Shoemaker 

Leibensperger, John C Machinist 

Leinbach, E. H Minister 

Levan, Daniel M Laborer 

Levan, David B Veterinarv Surgeon 

Levan, Edwin S Shoemaker 

Levan, Fred. B Yeoman 

Levan, Tacob D Molder 

Levan, Milton J Shoemaker 

Levan, Nathan S Shoemaker 

Levan, Percy L Laborer 

Levan, Thomas S Shoe Packer 

Levan, William P Shoemaker 

Levin, Charles Junk Dealer 

Luckenbill, Cyrus W Yeoman 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



71 



Luckenbill, John T Laborer 

Luckenbill, Robert G Shoemaker 

Luckenbill, T. R Butcher 

Lynch, R. B Minister 

Machemer, Alfred D Carpenter 

Machemer, Robert C Teamster 

Marcks, John M Holder 

Mattern, William H Plumber 

Meitzler, H. O Merchant 

Merkel, Howard D Laborer 

Merkel, Israel Yeoman 

Merkel, Wm. H Laborer 

Mertz, Charles A Knitter 

Mertz, George S Shirtmaker 

Mertz, John M Machinist 

Mertz, William H Clerk 

Metzger, Preston A Music Teacher 

Miller, Chas. W Carriage Manufacturer 

Miller, Karl H Teacher 

Miller, Ulrich J Clerk 

Missbach, Richard F Silk Weaver 

Moser, Sentral Laborer 

Moyer, E. D. . , Contractor 

Moyer, Edwin Plasterer 

Moyer, Fred. A Engineer 

Moyer, George Motorman 

Mover, Jacob A: Laborer 

Moyer, Jeremiah H Bricklayer 

Moyer, Oscar E Molder 

Moyer, Penrose Foreman 

Moyer, Robert K Shoemaker 

Moyer, Robert S Merchant 

Moyer, Romanius F Butcher 

Myers, William E Jeweler 

Neff, James G Yeoman 

Nicks, D. Levan Civil Engineer 

Printz, Frank B Plumber 

Queman, John L Laborer 

Rader, Herbert A Laborer 

Rahn, Frank G Engineer 

Rahn, William C Shoemaker 

Rahn, Nicholas M Machinist 

Rahn, Harold H Student 

Rahn, Cyrus P Alterer 

Rahn, Wilson M Laborer 

Rahn, Nicholas M Student 

Rahn, Jacob M Machinist 

Rahn, Fred. M Machinist 

Reber, Paul M Blacksmith 

Reber, George H Bookkeeper 

Reimert, Oscar A Painter 

Reimert, Samuel Stone Mason 

Reimert, Roy J Shoemaker 

Reinert, Wallace E Brakeman 

Reinert, Jacob F Merchant 

Reinhard, V. S Merchant 

Rentschler, Roger M Teacher 

Reppert, Lewis Tailor 

Reppert, Nelson Hostler 

Reed, Edward Laborer 

Reeser, John A Tinsmith 

Ressler, John H Engineer 

Rhode, George Butcher and Ice Mf r. 

Rhode, Cyrus J Lumber and Ins. 

Rothermel, James A Merchant 

Rudolf, W^iiliam ' Laborer 

Saul, Henry W Doctor 

Schadler, Nicholas Foreman 

Schaeffer, James Merchant 

Schaeffer, Edwin B Conductor 

Schaeffer, George Teacher 

Schaeffer, Warren D Conductor 

Schanoell. Chester B Mail Driver 

Scheldt, Edwin P Liveryman 

Scheidt, George S Shoemaker 

Scheldt, Henry C Blacksmith 

Scheidt, William L Shoemaker 

Scheirer, Charles B Laborer 



Schlenker, George A Laborer 

Schlenker, Wilson J Liquor Dealer 

Schick, Leo S Patternmaker 

Schmehl, N. S Hardware 

Schmoyer, C. M Ins. Agent 

Schoedler, William F Salesman 

Schwanger, Theodore Laborer 

Seidell, Leroy P Clerk 

Sell, John Yeoman 

Sell, Oscar O Yeoman 

Sellers, Roy M Clerk 

Sellers, Elmer J Druggist 

Seip, Daniel J Laborer 

Seip, William A Machinist 

Sharadin, J. D Merchant 

Sharadin, Thomas W Printer 

Sharadin, F. E Merchant 

Sharadin, Howard S. . . .Justice of the Peace 

Shankweiler, James S Dry Goods 

Shankweiler, E. H Dry Goods 

Siegfried, Clarence S Superintendent 

Sittler, Charles Laborer 

Smith, Reuben L Laborer 

Smith, Edwin M Motorman 

Smith, Benjamin Asst. Steward 

Smith, George H Justice of the Peace 

Smith, Harry A Clothier 

Smith, Fred. R Motorman 

Springer, Howard D Electrician 

Swoyer, Chas. Z Laborer 

Stabler, Reuben C Laborer 

Stanger, Lambert Hostler 

Steckel, Peter K Teamster 

Stein, Isaac B Distiller 

Stein, William B Yeoman 

Sterner, E. F Jeweler 

Stichler, Clemens J Merchant 

Stein, William H Bricklayer 

Stein, Byron A Mail Driver 

Steinberger, John A Carpenter 

Stern, John Shipping Clerk 

Stern, Allen S Carpenter 

Stern, Charles Laborer 

Stump, James N Shoe Cutter 

Stump, John A Laborer 

Stump, John A., Jr Foreman 

Treichler, James G Yeoman 

Treichler, David L Farmer 

Trexler, Oliver Laborer 

Trexler, Francis Butcher 

Walbert, Charles D ■ Conductor 

Warr, Thomas Loom Fixer 

Way, Clemment Patternmaker 

Weaver, John A Yeoman 

Webb, Cyrus F Clerk 

Weidenharamer, Oliver S Shoe Cutter 

Weidenhammer, George S Laborer 

Weidenhammer, Solon Machinist 

Weidner, Alfred B Laborer 

Weidner. Mahlon Yeoman 

Weigle, Richard R Express Man 

Weigle, Henry F Foreman 

Weikusat, August Yeoman 

Welder, George M Tailor 

W^entzel, John F Painter 

Wenz, John E Propr. Black Horse Hotel 

Wessner, William W Watchman 

Wessner, Fred. M Molder 

Wessner, Chas. D Contractor 

Wessner, George Foreman 

Williams, David Laborer 

Williams, John Silk Weaver 

Wink, Jacob B Engineer 

Winters, Samuel S Propr. Central House 

Winters, Miles Bar Clerk 

Wilson, John Yeoman 

Wuchter. Robert F Loom Fixer 

Yenser, David Shoemaker 



72 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Yenser, Frank Painter 

Y^oder, Wm. D. . . . Propr. Washington House 

Yoder, Harry B Teacher 

Yoder, Morris B Dental Student 

Youse, Adam S Clerk 

Zerfass, Elmer Laborer 

Zimmerman, H. O Teamster 

Zimmerman, Jacob F Ganger 



VOTERS OF WEST WARD 

The voters of the Second (or West) Ward are 
as follows : 

Adam, Francis K Carpenter 

Adam, Howard C Laborer 

Adam, Michael Yeoman 

Adam, Charles B Carpenter 

Ahn, Charles L Y'eoman 

Angstadt, Elwood M Printer 

Angstadt, Geo. P Propr. Penna. House 

Arndt, Curtis V Laborer 

Babb, Abraham Carriagemaker 

Babb, Millard E Barber 

Babb, Vernon W Teacher 

Baer, Fred. N Florist 

Bacon, Baron P Conductor 

Bear, William J Superintendent 

Becker, Lewis Y'eoman 

Becker, Samuel A Laborer 

Benner, Samuel W Yeoman 

Bennicoff , Jeremiah Carpenter 

Berk, Jonas A Laborer 

Bieber, George W Clerk 

Bieber, Harry T Conductor 

Bieber, Howard E Shoemaker 

Bieber, Jno. W Holder 

Bieber, U. S. G Veterinary Surgeon 

Bittner, Jacob W Minister 

Bleiler, David J. G Restaurant 

Bloch, Elwood M Laborer 

Boger, Harvey P Molder 

Bohler, Bert M Physical Director 

Bolich, Reuben Laborer 

Bonner, Arthur Superintendent 

Bortz, William F Machinist 

Bossier, Irvin S Shoemaker 

Bower, David Molder 

Bower, Thomas \''eoman 

Braucher, Clinton E Molder 

Braucher, William B Laborer 

Braucher, William W Machinist 

Breininger, Edwin A Laborer 

Breininger, Joel S Shoemaker 

Brobst, Francis O Laborer 

Brown, William T Merchant 

Brown, Wilson C Silk Weaver 

Boyer, Alvin D Laborer 

Boyer, Milton G Teamster 

Butz, Franklin D Solicitor 

Butz, Harry H Laborer 

Butz, Lewis B Yeoman 

Butz, Peter A Laborer 

Camp, Victor B Shoeman 

Carl, George W Molder 

Christ, Alvin S Stationery 

Christman, Chas. I. G Merchant 

Christman, Jacob Laborer 

Christman, William Shoemaker 

Clemmer, Chas. H Shoemaker 

Creitz, Scott W Laborer 

Cunningham, Ray T Clerk 

Deibert, Ben. M Baggage Master 

Deibert, Geo. F Clerk 

Dellicker, Howard G Paper Hanger 

DeLong, Irvin C Twister 

DeTurk, Eugene P Merchant 

DeTurk, Jno. W Clerk 



DeTurk, Lawrence A Clerk 

DeTurk, William R Cutter 

Deibert, Carleton C Station Agent 

Deysher, Mahlon Laborer 

Dietrich, Charles A Weaver 

Dietrich, Edgar S Stone Cutter 

Dietrich, Harvey O Teacher 

Dietrich, Irwin W Student 

Dietrich, Jess Laborer 

Dietrich, Jonathan Asst. Postmaster 

Dietrich, Oscar H Merchant 

Dissinger, Sol. W Clergyman 

Donmoyer, Milton T Yeoman 

Dornev. Geo. W Cementer 

Dreibelbis, Joel P Bottler 

Dries, Calvin A Stone Cutter 

Dries, Eld ridge J Shoemaker 

Dunkel, Owen G Laborer 

Dunkelberger, Lee D Student 

Dunkelberger, N. Z Doctor 

Eck, Morris Motorman 

Eckert, Addison D Weaver 

Eckert, Amnion E Weaver 

Eg,e'V. Henry Painter 

Endy, Chalres H Laborer 

Esser, Stephen C Yeoman 

Erb, lohn B Coremaker 

Erb, Reuben C Laborer 

Everett, T. M Shoe Cutter 

Faust, Alvin P Baker 

Feick, Ellwood W Teamster 

Feick, Wellington W Coal and Lumber 

Feick, Wilson K Clerk 

Fenstermacher, T. P. S Conductor 

Fisher, J. Albert Insurance Agent 

Fisher, William G '. Yeoman 

Fisher, Willipm D Carpenter 

Fister, Geo. E Laborer 

Pritch. Allen W Yeoman 

Folk, Tefferson F Laborer 

Folk. Thomas S Yeoman 

Frederic, Charles F Foreman 

Frederic. WilHam G Shoemaker 

Fritz, Charles W Motorman 

Fritz, Cporge E Laborer 

Fritz. William S Undertaker 

Fritzinger, Seth C Conductor 

Fox, John A Moulder 

Frev, Charles A Blacksmith 

Fulton, Oramel S Motorman 

Gehret, Morris W Painter 

Gehringer, David Painter 

Geiss, Newton W Student 

Geiss, Wellington Watchman 

George, Amos C Moulder 

Gery. Wilmer E Carpenter 

Geschwind, Adam H Restaurant 

Glasser, Percival Engineer 

Gonser, Jno. R Y^eoman 

Glasser, George Expressman 

Graver, Chester F Plasterer 

Grey, William J Laborer 

Grim, Charles T Laborer 

Grim, Daniel P Clerk 

Gruber. Calvin L Professor 

Haaf, Geo. D Merchant 

Haf er, James M Clerk 

Handwerk, Moses Laborer 

Haney, Joseph A Laborer 

Hauser, Victor H Foreman 

Hefflley, Llewellyn G Landlord 

Heffner, Samuel H Merchant 

Helbert. Solon Waiter 

Hein, Oliver Laborer 

Henry, Joe F Carpenter 

Herman, George C Farmer 

Heffner, Edward J Auto Repair 

Heffner, Joel S Yeoman 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



73 



Hepburn, Louis L Machinist 

Hepner, Alvin J Clerk 

Herman, James O Tailor 

Herman, Paul A Moving Pictures 

Hilbert, Abraham B Harnessmaker 

Hilbert, Clarence V Laborer 

Hilbert, Harry G Moulder 

Hilbert, John Yeoman 

Hilbert, Lealand Y Shoemaker 

Hoch, Charles K Landlord 

Hoch, John A Laborer 

Hoch, William K Landlord 

Hohl, Elmer M : Foreman 

Hottenstein, Chas. A Dentist 

Hottenstein, Ed. L Doctor 

Kauffman, Samuel L Rural Carrier 

Keinert, Stephen W Harness Maker 

Keiter, Chas. W Yeoman 

Keiter, John H Bricklayer 

Keiter. O. R Laborer 

Kemp, Geo. A Stone Cutter 

Kemp, Jacob D Shoemaker 

Kemp, William S Moulder 

Kercher, Grant M Laborer 

Kercher, Percy J Weaver 

Ketner, U. B.' Box Mf r. 

Keiflfer, Ezra W Laborer 

Klein, Daniel W Laborer 

Klein, Francis E Wheelwright 

Klein, Harry W Shoemaker 

Klein, Tno. W Craneman 

Klick, Paul S .^ Clerk 

Knittle, Daniel S Yeoman 

Knittle, William Carpenter 

Koch, Lynn T Weaver 

Kocher, David O Carpenter 

Keodinger, Percv H Molder 

Kohler, Cyrus C Engineer 

Kohler, Harry E Laborer 

Kohler, William F Yeoman 

Kohler, Chas. A Laborer 

Krick, Charles W Carpenter 

Kreibel, Charles S Electrician 

Kroninger. Geo. A Laborer 

Kuhns, Milton S Piano Tuner 

Kunkel, William H Laborer 

Kutz, Albert J L aborer 

Kutz, Charles A Farmer 

Kutz, Edwin S Yeoman 

Kutz, David W Yeoman 

Kutz, Howard D Baker 

Kutz, Solon E Farmer 

Leapoal. James Laborer 

Lease, George E Machinist 

Leinbach. John Machinist 

Leiser, Geo. H Laborer 

Lesher, Alvin K Auto Dealer 

Lesher, Charles Watchman 

Lesher, Howard C Shipping Clerk 

Levan, A. Nicholas Coal Dealer 

Levan, Charles F Laborer 

Livengood, Chas. E Laborer 

Livingood, William H Barber 

Long, Edwin I Laborer 

Long, Winfield A I^aborer 

Luckenbill, Curtis F Butcher 

McCollum. Calvin W Lineman 

Meitzler, Herbert H Laborer 

Meitzler, Richard C Motorman 

Melot Scott A : . Machinist 

Merkel, Edwin T Bricklayer 

Merkel, Trvin K Cor^maker 

Merkel. Wilson C Yeoman 

Mertz, Elias Y Yeoman 

Messersmith, Chas. E Farmer 

Miller, Edwin V Laborer 

l^'fi'Ier. Tames D Laborer 

Miller, John A Laborer 



Miller, John A Laborer 

Miller, William F Laborer 

Miller, William R Yeoman 

Millhouse, Ray R Laborer 

Moll, Alfred I Laborer 

Moncrieff, V. J Draftsman 

Moyer, Chas. W. H Superintendent 

Moyer. Irvin E Engineer 

Murray, Alfred P Laborer 

Ohlinger, Harry C Laborer 

O'Neil, Earl J Shoemaker 

O'Neil, James G Printer 

Otto, Benjamin Laborer 

Oswald, Herman D Barber 

Oswald, Milton Shoemaker 

Oswald, Robert C Shoemaker 

Paff, Irvin W Machinist 

Pauley, Frank H Shoemaker 

Peter, Alvin H Laborer 

Peters, I. C Doctor 

Quillman, Chas. S Laborer 

Rabenokl, Peter J Yeoman 

Rader, George A Laborer 

Rahn, William M Laborer 

Ramer, Edwin A Wheelwright 

Ranier, George W Granite Works 

Reed, Fred V Weaver 

Riegel, Charles Patternmaker 

Reigel, Jerome S Laborer 

Reigel, Ray C Fireman 

Reigel, Oscar F Bricklayer 

Reimert, Chas. D Laborer 

Reimert, Chas. H Farmer 

Reimert, Frank A Carpenter 

Reinert, William H Laborer 

Reinhart, Daniel S Laborer 

Reppert, Chas. F Moulder 

Reppert, Cyrus H Teamster 

Reppert, Edwin W Laborer 

Reppert, Lenius E. S Laborer 

Reeser, Milton Laborer 

Rhoad, Henry Laborer 

Rhode, Chas. PI Carpenter 

Rhode, Charles P Shoemaker 

Rhode, Chester W Contractor 

Rhode, John W Insurance Agent 

Rhode, Oscar J Engineer 

Rhode, Oliver E Laborer 

Rhode, William S Publisher 

Richter, Karl Machinist 

Ritter, George E Laborer 

Ritter, Samuel F Laborer 

Ritter, William J Shoemaker 

Roll man, J. Calvin Laborer 

Rohrssen, John Conf. Mfr. 

Rothermel, Emanuel Machinist 

Rothermel, Henry W Laborer 

Rothermel, Thomas Laborer 

Ruth, John A Student 

Sander, Fred M Moulder 

Sander, Wm. R Salesman 

Saul, Daniel M Clerk 

Saul, Edward E Bar Clerk 

Saul. Tohn H :Merchant 

.Schaeffer, George R Laborer 

Schaeffer, John E Laborer 

Schaeffer, Wm. B Blacksmith 

Schappel, Herbert G. C Motorman 

Schaooel, Phaon B Laborer 

Schatzlein, Edgar L Cigar Mfr. 

Scherer, John I Laborer 

Schparer, Tacob Yeoman 

.Schierv. Henrv S. J^aborer 

Schlegel, William M Farmer 

Srhlenker, Geo. A Job Printer 

Schlenker, Tames O Cler^vman 

Schlenker. Oliver R Auto Driver 

Schmehl, Horace Moulder 



74 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Schmehl, Truman S Clerk 

Schneider, W. P Yeoman 

Schucker, Alvin A Laborer 

Schwoyer, Jacob S Yeoman 

Schwoyer, John A Yeoman 

Schwoyer, Wm. M Motorman 

Sell, Morris W Retired Farmer 

Sell, Titus P Yeoman 

Sensenderfer, Irvin O Cupola Man 

Serfass, Wm. F Moulder 

Sharadin, Edward M Shoemaker 

Sharadin, Harry W Artist 

Sharadin, Harry B Yeoman 

Sharadin, Richard C Shoemaker 

Sharadin, Richard D Merchant 

Silsdorf , Aaron M Coremaker 

Slonecker, Edward Electrician 

Smith, Chas. H Laborer 

Smith, Geo. B Clergyman 

Smith, George W Huckster 

Smith, Irvin M Laborer 

Smith, Joshua Variety Store 

Smith, Nervin P Salesman 

Smith, Samuel M Clerk 

Smith, William B Yoeman 

Snyder, Chas. W Photographer 

Spangler, James S Stone Cutter 

Spangler, Mahlon W Laborer 

Spohn, Elmer U Laborer 

Spohn, Solon E Carpenter 

Stambaugh, Doria O Baker 

Steckel, Ellwood K Doctor 

Stein, Calvin L Coremaker 

Stein, Chas. A Wholesale Liquor 

Stein, Henry Laborer 

Stein, James G Moulder 

Stein, Lewis A Salesman 

Stein, Solon A Saleman 

Stern, Daniel Laborer 

Stern, George F Laborer 

Stern, Harvey L Moulder 

Stern, William Laborer 



Sterner, Peter S Shoemaker 

Stimmel, George Dentist 

Stitzer, Clarence S Weaver 

Stufflet, Chas. M Shoemaker 

Stufflet, Edward E Merchant 

Stufflet, George D Barber 

Stufflet, John Painter 

Stump, Jacob F Undertaker 

Trexler, Uriah L Yeoman 

Wagaman, Geo. W Clerk 

Wagaman, Sylvester Hostler 

Wagenhurst, Chas. R Tinsmith 

Wagenhurst, Chas. M Tinsmith 

Wagenhurst, Ed. M Salesman 

Wanner, Lee Laborer 

Wanner, Solon Yeoman 

Wanner, Vernon R Mechanic 

Wartzenluft, Daniel L Shoe Store 

Wartzenluft, Joel M Laborer 

Weaver, George D Shoemaker 

Weidenhammer, Reuben F. Yeoman 

Werley, Morris N Laborer 

Weiandt, Fred Machinist 

Weida, Sylvester O Teamster 

Weigle, Walter W Laborer 

Wentzel, Wm. A Shoemaker 

Werlev, Francis H Yeoman 

Werley, Herbert J Weaver 

Werley, Morris N Laborer 

Wessner, Ralph D Shoemaker 

Williamson, Fred. T Foreman 

Wink, Jacob B Engineer 

Wise, Ephraim Y Laborer 

Wisser, Daniel A Yeoman 

Wolf, Edwin B Machinist 

Wright, Granville R Shoemaker 

Wynn, Frank R Merchant 

Yaxtheimer, Wm. D Shoemaker 

Yenser, Edwin Shoemaker 

Yoder, Marbry K : Clerk 

Ziegler, Robert C Carpenter 



In demonstration of the growth of the 
town in these hundred years the following 
is quoted from an oration delivered at the 
commencement exercises of the Keystone 
State Normal School on June 23d, this pres- 
ent year. It is a study of "The Centennial 
of Kutztown," made by Miss Ethel I. 
Wardrop, of Mount Carmel, Pa. 

"The centenary of a borough may deserve 

commemoration by a centennial if the town 
has been of importance in the history of the 
coimtry, or if it has been notable for its 
own development, industrially or otherwise. 
Historically, as we learn today, Kutztown 
has been much more important than any ol 
its present citizens, before the centennial 
stimulated study, had any idea that it was. 
Then as to growth or development, the town 
is really remarkable. Some towns grow 
continuously, develop steadily ; others make 
a brave start, grow like mushrooms for a 
time, and then decline. Kutztown is not 
of the latter class; it belongs to the former. 
It is not like Jonah's gourd, but like the 
great "Centennial Oak," just over yonder 
hill. 



"Increase in number of inhabitants is one 
evidence of growth. No records have been 
found to tell how many inhabitants there 
were in Kutztown at the time of its incor- 
poration. An extant assessment list of two 
years later, 1817, shows that there were then 
io5 taxables, 95 of them heads of families, 
and II of them "single freemen." There 
were then 69 houses, 47 horses, and 67 cows. 
The number of human inhabitants is not 
recorded. After 100 years, Kutztown bor- 
ough has about 2360 inhabitants, and 506 
dwelling houses. These buildings, as dis- 
covered by a privately appointed census 
bureau, some of us girls of the Normal 
School, are classified thus: Single brick 
buildings, 202 ; double brick buildings, iii ; 
single frame buildings, 104; double frame 
buildings, 70; single stone buildings, 17; 
and double stone buildings, 2; really 689 
separate domiciles. Some we may have 
overlooked or counted wrongly, for we are 
not skilled census takers. But there are 
700 or more buildings, including business 
houses, in the borough now — stables, little 
shops and garages not included, and that 
reminds one of another matter. Instead of 



CENTENNIAI, HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



75 



keeping horses and cows, manj^ Kutztown 
folks today have invested in automobiles 
and these the assessor notes instead of cat- 
tle. Then there are the banks, two of them, 
some twenty stores, ten hotels and restaur- 



ants, a large foundry and machine shop, two 
shoe factories, a hosiery mill, silk mill, shirt 
manufactory, carriage works, marble yard 
and last, but far from least, a splendid public 
school and four thrivinsf churches." 




John G. Wink, the First Nativb; of the Borough 




Mrs. Ewzabeth Wynn, Aged 90 Years. Kutztown's Oi,dest Resident 



76 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



CHURCH HISTORY 



THE MAXATAWNY REFORMED CONGREGATION 



The history of every community, town or city 
is preeminently bound up with its venerable 
churches and well-filled grave yards. These were 
not only the first sacred and venerated places in 
the early settlements, but have always been, and 
still are, the centers to which the most earnest 
thought of men have tended and from which 
have gone out those molding influences which 
have made individuals, families and communities 
as worthy, peaceful and happy as they are. The 
radiatine center of such influences for Kutztown 
and vicinity is found in old St. John's and its 
sister churches. 

St. John's was originally known as the Maxa- 
tawny Congregation, taking its name from the 
district in which it is located. 

In the absence of the congregational records 
it is impossible to write with certainty concern- 
ing its organization and development. But from 
occasional contemporary references, a few state- 
ments may perhaos be made, with a reasonable 
des^ree of certitude. 

First, that the congregation was organized cir. 
1736, and the first house of worship erected cir. 

I7.=;5- . . , 

Second, that the congregation was ongmally 
Reformed, but that in the course of time Luth- 
eran services were also conducted and that finally 
it became officially a Union congregation. 

The first reference to Maxatawny is found in 
a letter by Rev. John Philip Boehm, the founder 
of the Reformed Church in Pennsylvania, to the 
Reformed Synods in Holland, dated O-tober 18. 
17.^-1. In this letter he suggests that the Reformed 
settlers could be "with much difficulty suita'^ly 
served by four ministers." After designating the 
sections to be cared for by the first three min- 
isters, he continues : 

"A fourth minister would be greatlv needed 
at Goshenhoppen. about thirty-six miles from 
Philadelphia. He might conduct services 
there every three weeks, and use the rest 
of the time to feed the poor sheep at the end 
of the wilderness in the above mentioned 
Saucon, Macunaie, Maxatawny and Great 
Swamp who thirst for the hearing of God's 
word as dry earth for water. Many people 
from these regions have already been to see 
me in great sadness, and complained of the 
pitiable state of their souls. There were 
also some who being able to make the jour- 
nev have come at various times to commu- 
nion in the congregations entrusted to me 
at Falkner Swamp, a distance of certainly 
twenty-five to thirty English miles, and 
brought children for baotism, which journev, 
however, is impossible for old Persons, weak 
or pregnant women, so that it is not to be 
wondered at (especially when one remembers 
that there are children who, for lack of 
minister cannot be brought to baptism until 
they are several years of a.se) that my heart 
breaks ard mv eyes are full of tears about 
this condition." 

The pathetic appeals of Boehm to the Fathers 



in Holland brought men and money, but it was 
not until fort)' years later that the people of 
Maxatawny were privileged to enjoy the minis- 
trations of a trained and regularly ordained 
pastor. 

In May of the following year there arrived at 
Philadelphia at the head, of a Swiss Reformed 
Colony, Rev. Moritz Goetschius, accompanied by 
his wife and eight children. Rev. Goetschius 
was ill when the colony arrived at Philadelphia 
and expired immediately after being brought 
ashore. His son, John Henry, then seventeen 
years of age, having excellent testimonies from 
the schools of Zurich, was prevailed upon by 




Old St. John's Union Church 

the people to preach. Many of the destitute con- 
gregations accepted him as their pastor. On the 
title page of the church record at New Gosh- 
enhoppen written probably in 17,36 and surely not 
later than 1739, he states that he preaches the 
Truth at Skippack, Old Goshenhoppen, New Gosh- 
enhoppen, (Great) Swamp, Saucon, Egypt, Maxa- 
tawny, Aloselm, Oley, Berne and Tuloehocken. 
At this time few houses of worship had been 
erected and he preached chiefly in houses, barns 
and groves. In 1740 he left the province and 
went to Long Island, where he continued his 
ministry. 

In a letter dated January 14, 1739, Boehm com- 
plains of Goetschy's intrusion into his works, es- 
pecially at Oley. He suggests that a minister 
be stationed at Oley, who could also serve Cacusi 
(Hains Church) eight miles from the center of 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



77 



the Oley district and Ma?;atawny ten miles dis- 
tant. During the months of January and Feb- 
ruary in 1740 Rev. Boehm visited the Reformed 
Congregations in the province, at the request of 
the Synods of Holland, and inquired of them 
how much they were able and willing to contri- 
bute unfailingly to the annual salary of a min- 



"Four pounds of this country's currency, 
which we, the elders now in office in this 
congregation, attest" : 



"February 7, 1740." 



"DANIEL LEVAN, 
"PETER LEIBI." 







g;^.4.^^ '^■Ui^i^J 






'^^ 






\ 






■ - L / ^ 










>,'.-.:?. 




.f 








s^l.,- 


-4 '^ . ' . '. 


-* 




. - ■ , ■ ■ ■ *?' ■ ■ 


i| 




Pp. , ^--m-nc^i I'er^Ulsy^^ 



Title Page of Goshenhoppen Church Record 
(Showing signature of Rev. John Henry Goetschiusj 



ister. His reports to the Synods dated April 4, 
1740, contains the following item concerning the 
congregation in Maxatawny : — 



"The congregation of Maxadani (Maxa- 
tawny will contribute, without fail, to annual 
salary of a Reformed minister : 



On ;\Iay 22d, 1746, Rev. Michael Schlatter, a 
native of St. Gall, Switzerland, was commissioned 
by the Synods of Holland to go to Pennsylvania 
and investigate the condition of the destitute 
Reformed congregations and to organize them 
into a coetus (Synod). He arrived at Philadel- 
phia on the 6th of September and immediately 
began to visit the Reformed centers in Pennsyl- 



78 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



vania and the neighboring provinces. In June, 
1747, he visited the Maxatawny region and on 
Sunday, June 28th, preached to a large con- 
course of people at Jacob Levan's, at what is now 
Eaglepoint. Local tradition has assigned this 
sermon to Count Zinzendorf, but recent historical 
investigations have proven this to be an error. 
Rev. Schlatter records his visit to the Maxatawny 
region in his diary, as edited by H. H. Harbaugh, 
pages 160, 161, 162, as follows. By an error the 
name of Manatawny appears for Maxatawny : 

"On the 23d [June 1747 I went from Rev. 
John Templeman at Swatora] fifteen miles 
further to Tulpehocken, where in passing I 
preached. From thence I went to Manataw- 
ny [Maxatawny] thirty-five miles distant and 
made an engagement to preach there (at 
Jacob Levan's) the following Sabbath [June 
28th]. 

"From Wednesday to Saturday, the 24th, 
25th and 26th, I visited the congregations in 
Manatawny [Maxatawny], Magunchy [Zie- 
gel and Western Salisbury], Egypt and on 
the Lehigh [river], a circuit of forty-five 
miles and came near to Bethlehem, a location 
of the Moravians ; and here in the providence 
of God, I met Jacob Liscly, who was at 
that time attached to that sect. This man, 
although he had never seen me, resolved to 
accompany me a distance of ten miles to 
Nazareth." 



"From Nazareth I returned again to Beth- 
lehem, and five miles farther. On the 27th 
(of June 1747) according to promise, I ar- 
rived at Manatawny [Maxatawny at Jacob 
Levan's], a distance of twenty miles, where 
on the following day [June 28th 1747] I 
preached to a great multitude of people. 
Still, as these people had suffered themselves 
to be drawn by a certain hireling [Frederick 
Casimir Muller], who had also instigated 
and maintained divisions in Goshenhoppen, 
I could not here proceed, as I desired to in- 
stitute good order. On this account I left 
soon after the sermon, and went twenty-five 
miles farther to Saccony." 

This preaching by Rev. Schlatter at Jacob Le- 
van's is referred to in a letter by the Moravian 
Bishop Cammerhoff to Count Zinzendorf dated 
November 17, 1747. 

"[Came in the] evening to Jacob Levan's 
in Maxatawny [Rev. Michael] Schlatter com- 
manded by the Reformed Classis of Ams- 
terdam has crept in here. He tried to preach 
and to raise sixty pounds per annum for a 
Reformed clergyman solely. But the people 
declared they do not want a quit-rent preach- 
er." 

Frederick Casimir Muller, whom Schlatter de- 
signates as a hireling, had been a teacher at 
Stetichein near Mayence before coming to Penn- 
sylvania. He first appears as a minister though 
unordained at New Goshenhoffen where he bap- 
tized a child July 7, 1745. By the close of the 
foUowine year he served, according to Schlatter, 
"ten or twelve small congregations in and about 
Oley." He opposed the work of Schlatter and 
urged the people not to give up their freedom 
by submitting to the authorities of Holland. He 
declared that by recognizing the authority of 
the Coetus they would come "into intolerable 
bondage." He dedicated the Reformed Church 



in Longswamp in September 1748. He seems to 
have ceased his ministrations in Maxatawny and 
vicinity in 1752 or 1753. He seems to have min- 
istered to the early settlers at a time when no 
ordained minister was obtainable and though of 
an independent spirit to have done a good work. 
In July 1762 he laid the cornerstone for the 
Tabor Reformed Church in Lebanon. The Mor- 
avian diary at the latter place refers to him as 
a "pious man." 

Rev. Philip Jacob Michael was born in the 
fatherland in 1716, and came to Pennsylvania 
October 14, 1731. He was a weaver by trade 
and, having had some educational advantages he 
was prevailed upon by the settlers to teach their 
children and to instruct them in the Catechism. 
At the request of the people he began to read 
sermons. He is said to have had a pleasing 
personality and considerable ability as a preach- 
er. In order that children might be baptized, 
the young confirmed, the holy communion ob- 



^gaMffiKillATj lTBIMIJ J J , X-T./'CPp- ! 1 1 Mini'lliil' i iii»ii_iii j lyi ij n 

^'' Jj J' W -''«^- -'T** 



A Pagk from the Record Book of the 

Reformed Church at Bowers 

(Showing signature of Rev. Philip Jacob Michael J 

served and marriages solemnized, he assumed the 
prerogatives of a regularly ordained minister of 
the Gospel. Which was done no doubt at the 
desire and earnest reauest of the settlers. We 
find activity in the capacity of a minister of 
the Gospel, at the dedication of Heidelbero' Church 
in Lehigh County, where he and Rev. J. F. Schert- 
lein (Lutheran) conducted the dedicatory services 
March 28th, 1745. In 1752 he succeeded Rev. F. 
C. Miller at Longswamp and probably at the 
.=anie time or soon thereafter also at Maxatawny. 
It was during Rev. Michael's pastorate, if the 
traditional date of 1755 is correct, that the first 
church was erected on a tract of five acres which 
Daniel Levan had set apart for church and school 
purposes. 

In i7Sg there occurred a sad division in the 
congregation. The pastor and many of the con- 
gregation seceeded and together with some of 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



79 



the Reformed settlers, who had been worshipping 
with the Lutheran congregation on the Beaver 
Creek (Mertz Church), went about two miles 
farther south along the Saucony Creek and not 
only erected a new church but on the title page 
of their congregation record styled themselves 
The Maxatawny Reformed Congregations. The 
cause for this division is not definitely known, 
perhaps it is hinted at in the positive statement 
made by Peter DeLong in presenting the eround 
for the new church. 

Maxatawny Township, Oct. 8, 1759. 

"We the undersigned, Peter DeLong and 
my lawful wife Eva Elisabeth DeLong, ac- 
knowledge hereby, by virtue of our signa- 
tures that we present and relinquished two 
acres of ground (to the Maxatawny Re- 
formed congregation) upon which is to be 
erected an Evangelical Reformed church and 
school house. This tract of lands adjoins 
our plantation, where we now reside in 
Maxatawny Township in Berks County, and 
is bounded on one side by the lands of And- 
reas Hack and on the other side by our own 
land. And this ground shall not only be 
relinquished and given for a short period, but 
as long as the sun and moon shine in the 
heavens and the rivers flow in their courses ; 
that neither we nor our heirs, or any other 
member of the congregation shall have the 
right to make or seek to make any claim to it. 

"To confirm and make this irrevocable we 
have signed in the presence of witnesses and 
with our own hands." 

PIYETER DELANGH, 
EVA ELISABETH DELONGH 
Her X Mark 

Heinrig Luchenbill 

Jacob Giradin 

Rev. Michael was the first pastor and in some 
cases the organizer of a number of Reformed 
congregations iri northern Berks and Lehigh 
county. Among them are Dunkel's (1744), Heid- 
elberg (1745). Ziegel (1750), St. Jacob's (i75o)> 
Reading (1752), DeLong's (1759), Ebenezer 
(1760), Weisenberg (1761), Lowhill (1769) Mich- 
ael's (1769), Zion's, in Perry Township (1771) ; 
besides these he served as pastor at Oley, Long- 
swamp, Maxatawny and neighboring congrega- 
tions. He also frequently at the request of the 
Coetus supplied vacant congregations ; the church 
at Jost Dreichbach's Mill in Lehigh Township, 
Northampton county, (1760), NewGoshenhoppen 
(1764), and Great Swamp (1766). 

Rev. Michael was not a member of the Coetus, 
though he labored in harmony with it. In 1764 
he applied for ordination to the Coetus, who in 
turn had to receive permission from the Synods 
of Holland to ordain him. They sent over the 
following request and testimonial : 

A. M. May .srd [1764] 
"Philip Jacob Michael appeared with an 
earnest petition that he might be admitted 
as a member of Coetus. His credentials, 
from far and near, show, that according to 
the rules of our Reformed Church, he has 
been faithful in doctrine, life and conduct for 
fourteen years, and constantly served the same 
congregations in Maxatawny, and therefore 
he does not deserve the name of an adven- 
turer, or Moravian. He showed that twelve 
years ago Mr. Schlatter would not recognize 
or admit him because of imfounded reasons. 



Wherefore he would not apply again, al- 
though he labored continually in harmony 
with us. We can state this all the more 
readily, because all his congregations are well 
known to us and we know how he has un- 
weariedly aimed for this end, and even now 
in the 48th year of his age he supplies with 
the greatest zeal twelve congregations. This 
earnest request and petition we could not re- 
fuse. But since he has not been ordained, 
according to the order of our church, we 
herewith request permission, and proper au- 
thority from the Rev. Synods to ordain him. 
And as several of our number have heard 
him preach, and in his ministerations all is 
clearly in accordance with the Reformed 
Church-Order in doctrine and fife, we ex- 
pect that our request will not be in vain, 
so^ that we may thus be strengthened, by 
bringing under our control the congregations 
which he is serving, and comply with his 
reasonable request. We would not put our 
pen to this were we not convinced that it 
would be of advantage to us and of greater 
profit to his congregations. We expect at the 
earliest opportunity a favorable reply from 
the Rev. Synods." — Minutes of Coetus, pages 
225, 226. 

To this earnest plea the authorities replied 
by requesting that Rev. Michael come to Holland 
for ordination. This being impracticable he con- 
tinued his labors without ordination. He not 
only organized congregations and built churches, 
but drew up constitutions, regulations, agree- 
ments, where the churches were union, and en- 
deavored to establish schools. His efforts were 
herculean and his results far reaching. During 
the Indian uprisings he had many narrow es- 
capes as he rode through the forests from one 
congregation to another. He was an ardent 
patriot and frequently from the pulpit presented 
the cause of Independence. On May 17, 1777, 
he was appointed Chaplain of the First Battalion 
of Berks County Militia. At the close of his 
period of service he returned again to some of 
his former congregations. He died on his farm 
at Michael's Hill near Bowers Station and wa.' 
buried by Rev. Henry Hertzel at the Longswamp 
Church. His death occurred between May 6th. 
1786, the date of the making of his will which 
contains his signature and June 17th of the same 
year the time when it was probated. No head- 
stone marks his grave, nor do any of the many 
congregations wjiich he founded or served con- 
tain any memorial to this faithful servant of 
the Lord, who deserves to be numbered among 
the founders of the Reformed Church in the 
United States. 

The consequences of the division were that 
the few remaining families were unable to main- 
tain the regular services of a pastor. The con- 
gregation anxious to obtain a pastor frequently 
accepted one of the many unordained irrespon- 
sible ecclesiastical vagrants who frequently came 
along and pretended to be ministers of the Gos- 
pel. One of these was a certain Mr. Fritz who 
pretended to be a Reformed minister. He is said 
to have ascended into the pulpit in DeLong's 
church in a state of beastly intoxication and in re- 
peating his text, "If anv man will come after me, 
let him deny himself take up his cross, and fol- 
lowing me," lost his balance and fell down the 
steps of the pulpit with the words "follow me" 
in his mouth. One of the elders at whose feet 
he fell arose and turning to the congregation 



8o 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



exclaimed "No brethren we will not follow him." 
This state of affairs became finally intolerable 
to the more spiritually minded and in 1771 they 
appealed to the Coetus which met at Reading 
October 9th for help. 

Reading, OcronER qth, 1771. 

First Session, 2 p. m. 

Article IV 
"The congregation at Maxatawny, which 
was formerly served by Dr. Michael, but has 
been for quite a time without anj' minister, 
requested the Reverend Coetus to help it as 
much as possible. This congregation has suf- 
fered very much, partly through bad minis- 
ters, partly because for a long time they have 
had no minister at all. They are only a few 
who really profess the true doctrine of our 
religion; the majority of this congregation 
profess no religion at all. Yet it seems that 
man}' souls could yet be saved and led to the 
true way of life if a good minister could be 
placed over this congregation, as is its desire. 
Some of our brethren have served the con- 
gregation by request, and have noticed that 
most of the people are very desirous and at- 



tentive to hear the Word of God. They also 
asked for a continuation of these services, 
which were held until the present time. To 
this end they appeared this year before the 
Reverend Coetus and asked us not to abandon 
them, but rather to seek the lost among them. 
It was, therefore, resolved by the Reverend 
Coetus, in regard to .this congregation, that 
in future it shall be served, from time to 
time by the neighboring ministers, until we 
may be better able later on to supply it with 
a minister of its own. The following were 
chosen to serve this congregation, namely : 
Dominees Pomp, Blumer, Boos, and the Sec- 
retary [John Theobold Faber]." — Minutes of 
Coetus, page 310. 

During the month of March 1772 Rev. John 
Henry Helfrich became pastor of the Maxa- 
tawny Reformed congregation, and with him the 
confusion period ended and the congregatiori en- 
tered upon a new era of development and growth. 
In his report to the Coetus in 1785 he reports for 
the Maxatawny congregation 30 families, 21 bap- 
tisms, I school and 31 pupils, and in 1792 for 
Kutztown he reports (the first report after re- 
organization) 22 families, 12 baptisms, i school 
and 40 pupils. 



MAXATAWNY LUTHERAN CONGREGATION 



Thus far no reference has been made to the 
Lutherans in Maxatawn\'. They were no doubt 
of the same nurnerical strength as the Reformed. 
However for manj' years no regular services 
were held in the vicinity of Kutztown because 
the district was surrounded by well organized 
Lutheran congregations : Moselem (1742), Mertz 
(1747), Lehigh (1748) and Ziegel, a union con- 
gregation (1750). Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlen- 
berg, the organizer of the Lutheran Church in 
Pennsylvania, frequently passed through Maxa- 
tawny in his visits to the congregations along the 
Blue Mountains. Tradition has it that on sev- 
eral occasions he stayed over night with Jacob 
Hottenstein and that he instructed the children 
in the Catechism. 

Rev. Daniel Schumacher, who for a period of 
twenty years, 1754-1774, supplied at various times 
many of the congregations in Berks, Lehigh and 
Northampton Counties, appears to have preached 
for a short time in Maxatawny. He was not a 
member of the Lutheran Synod. However like 
his reformed contemporary Michael, he was up- 
right, honest, and churchly, and is not to be 
compared with many of the independent ministers 
which infested the churches in the colonial period. 
He is said to have supplied sixteen congrega- 
tions at one time. In 1756 he added Maxatawny 
to his list of preaching places, but fails to ever 
mention it again. No doubt the trouble, which 
a few years later rent the Reformed congrega- 
tion, was already brewing and caused him to 
drop this new preaching point. Or perhaps the 
introduction of Lutheran services, as one may 
almost infer from the emphatic language of 
the document in which Peter DeLong donates 
the ground for the Maxatawny Reformed church 
at Bower's Station, was the cause of the divis- 
ion. 

Rev. Schumacher supplied at various times the 
following congregations: Trinity (Reading), 



Weisenberg, Ziegel, Heidelberg, Egypt, Lynn, 
New Jerusalem, Western Salisbury, Eastern Salis- 
bury, Indianland, Lehigh, Saucon, Easton, Oley 
Hills, Maxatawny, Alsace, Windsor and beyond 
the Schuylkill River. 

It is quite probable that neighboring Lutheran 
pastors held an occasional service in the Maxa- 
tawny Church. But no regular services were 
held in it until the coming of Rev. Daniel 
Lehman cir. 1776. He continued to conduct 
services about every six or eight weeks until 
the relocation of the church at which time both 
congregations were regularly organized and le- 
gally united. 

On November 9th, 1789, the congregations met 
and decided to erect jointly a house of worship 
on the lots set aside at the founding of the town 
for church and school purposes. 

THE CHURCH REGULATIONS 

IN THE NAME OF THE TRIUNE GOD, THE FATHER, THE 
SON AND THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN. 

By this shall not only those now living but 
future generations, know that both the Evan- 
gelical congregations, namely the Lutheran and 
Reformed, of Kutztown and vicinity, in Maxa- 
taii'uy Township, Berks County in the State of 
Pennsylvania, have, on the 9th of November of 
the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty- 
nine, associated themselves to build a union 
church for the services of the above named two 
denominations ; and that both congregations have 
agreed on the following articles : 

Articulus I 

That the church, about to be built by the 

members of both the Evangelical denominations, 

shall be jointly erected on one of the lots, which 

the late George Kutz, at the laying out of the 



CEKTENXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



town, called Kutztown, gave to the two Evan- 
gelical congregations for church and school pur- 
poses. 

Art. II 
The Deed or Bill of sale, which has been given 
to the two congregations, shall be held in cus- 
tody by one of the Trustees, Elders or Deacons, 
but not for a longer period than three years, 
when it shall be turned over to an elder or a 
deacon of the other congregation, but for no 
longer period than three years ; and thus it shall 
change hands every three years in order that no 
congregation may boast of an advantage over 
the other. It shall be decided by lot from which 
of the two congregations the trustee, elder or 
deacon shall be chosen to whom the deed is to 
be entrusted for the first three years. The trus- 
tee, deacon or elder to whom the deed shall be 
entrusted for safe keeping every three years 
shall be chosen by the majority of the members 



Art. Ill 

This union church shall be built at the ex- 
pense of both congregations. If one congrega- 
tion shall be stronger than the other, or be able 
to contribute more than the other one for the 
building of the church, the stronger shall not 
. claim for itself any advantage or prerogative, nor 
reproach the weaker congregation ; but the church 
shall be built jointly and in perfect unit}', and 
there shall be, and ever remain, true equality in 
all the rights and nrivileges. 

The building committee necessary for those 
jointly erecting a church shall be chosen by the 
two congregations, from one congregation as 
many as from the other ; and to them shall be 
given the preparation for and superintendency of 
the building of the aforesaid union church, at 
the expense of both consregations. The selected 
building committee shall have full power to enter 
into agreements" with the neces»iry mechanics 
for the erection of this church, however, they 
shall be careful to avoid all unnecessary expenses ; 
but shall look with favor upon enduring, rather 
than ornamental work in the erection of this 
church. Both congregations obligate themselves 
not only to suooly the building committee with 
money for building material and waa-es ; but also 
with teams and manual labor, whenever neces- 
sary until the church is built and paid. How- 
ever, if, contrarv to all exnectations, one or sev- 
eral of the building committee shall act nartia'ly 
or seek their own advantase, and the same be 
clearly shown ; then that or those members of 
the building committee shall be relieved of their 
duties, and other members be chosen to their 
places from that or those congreeations from 
which the dismissed members had been selected. 

Art. V. 
Each congregation shall choose and support 
its own oastor ; the minister receiving the highest 
vote shall subsequently be accepted and supported 
by the entire congregation. But no minister can 
or shall be elected and acceoted, except one that 
sustains true churchly relations. 

Art. VI 
The elders and deacons shall see to it that 
both pastors do not hold services on the same 
Sunday but the services shall be held alternatingly. 
If both congregations increase, so that they be- 
come able to hold two services every Sunday, they 
•shall also be held alternatinglv, that is, the min- 
ister who preaches on Sunday morning, shall 



preach on the following Sunday in the afternoon 
and the minister who preaches on the Sunday 
afternoon, shall preach on the following Sunday 
in the morning and thus shall the services be 
alternatingly continued. The services on the 
holidays shall be left to the two ministers ; but 
if they cannot agree between themselves, then 
the elders and deacons shall see to it that on the 
fastal days services shall be held alternatingly 
by each of the ministers. Should funerals occur 
simultaneously in the two congregations, and that 
the friends of both the deceased desire their own 
pastor for the burial, then the pastor of the one 
who died first, if it be possible, shall preach his 
funeral sermon first, but in such manner that 
the second burial be not unnecessarily delayed. 

Art. VII 
The elders and deacons whose pastor preaches 
shall have precedence in the deacon's pews and 
they shall supress all mischief and disorder in 
and about the church. Otherwise no member 
shall have any precedence over another member 
to any scat in the church. 

Art. VIII 
Each congregation may conduct their Holy 
Communion serivce, accord'no' to their own church 
order, and whenever thev desire, however only 
on their own Sunday. The elders and deacons 
of the other congreeation, shall see to it when 
one of the two congregations celebrate the Lord's 
Sunper that there shall not arise a discussion or 
disturbance on account of u=ual denominational 
customs, and in particular that no minister be 
affronted during the services. 

Art. IX 
The vessels which are employed in the holy 
sacraments as well as the necessary church cloths 
and collection bag (Klingelbentel) shall be joint- 
ly provided and jointly used. , 

Art. X 
The alms which shall be received on Sundays 
and the festal days s'^all be jointly administered 
and employed as follows: — One year an elder 
or a deacon of one congregation shall receive the 
alms monev. and the followine vear an elder or a 
deacon of the other conereration shall receive it; 
everv year there shall be an accounting and the 
surnlus shall, either in money, or bv a note, be 
handed over to the succeeding custodian. If anv 
imorovements or repairs be made at the church 
or the schi^ol hou^e, yet to be built, or other 
necessary exnenses arise thev shall be raid out of 
the joint alms, or provided by a joint collec- 
tion. 

Art. XI 
If a s-ift or legacy shall be given or left to 
this union church, the same shall be jointly em- 
ployed, ard no congregation shall have any prior 
claim to it. 

Art. XII 
Onlv one church book shall be kept in which 
the children that wi'l be baptized in each of the 
two cons-rep-ations shall be entered ; which shall 
be kent in the church or the s-hool house. There 
shall also be onlv one key to the church, and also 
to the cuoboard in the church, and they shall be 
kept in the school house. 

Art. XIII 
The place of burial or churchyard of this 
union church shall also be union, and no one 
of any of the two congregations shall have any 



82 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



prerogation on this already mentioned union place 
for burial and it shall be fenced in as soon as 
possible. The elders and decons shall see to it 
in particular that good order be maintained on 
the place for burial. 

Art. XIV 

Since the instruction of the young in reading, 
writing and the like is of the highest importance, 
therefore we shall build a school house as soon 
as possible, and that under the following regu- 
lations : 

1st SECTION. The school house shall be erect- 
ed jointly on a common piece of ground, neai 
the church. 

2d SECTION. As soon as the union school 
house shall be built, a capable person who at 
the same time leads an upright life, shall be 
elected by a majority of both congregations as 
schoolmaster and chorister. (The first teacher 
may be a member of either the Lutheran or 
Reformed denominations). Should however the 
schoolmaster conduct himself unseemly and of- 
fensively, or should be partial (denominationally) 
in his instruction or be too ignorant or too indif- 
ferent, he may, after being once or twice admon- 
ished by the pastors, elders and deacons, be dis- 
missed by a majority of the votes cast by both 
denominations. 

.3d. SECTION. If for example a schoolmaster 
adhering to the Evangelical Reformed faith be 
elected for a period of three years he may at 
the expiration of three years, if he has proven 
himself worthy both in teaching and in life, be 
re-elected for three more years by a two-third 
vote of the Lutheran congregation and by a ma- 
jority vote of the Reformed congregation. But 
if he is no more agreeable to two-thirds of the 
Lutheran congregation and the majority of the 
Reformed congregation, then shall a schoolmaster 
of the Evangelical Lutheran faith be elected by 
a majority vote of both congregations, but only 
for a period of three years. However, if he is 
agreeable at the expiration of three years to two- 
thirds of the Reformed congregation and the 
majority of the Lutheran congregation he shall 
he elected for three more years, or dismissed by 
the same vote, so that a scholmaster may remain 
as long as he behaves himself properlv, and is 
re-elected according to the above prescribed man- 
ner. 

4th SECTION. The reverend ministers, elders, 
and deacons shall intelligently see to it that good 
order is kept in the school, and that each child 
is properly taught in its studies, and that no 
partiality be shown [in teaching the doctrines of 
the denominations.] 

Art. XV 
Should however again a dispute arise con- 
cerning matters pretaining to the church or the 
school, of whatever kind, in either or both con- 
gregations, the matter in dispute, if it pertains 
to both congregations shall be adjusted by the 
pastors, elders, deacons and several members of 
both congregation^. If however the contention 
is only in the one congregation the pastor, elders 
deacons and several members of that congrega- 
tion shall adjust the matter, and whenever pos- 
sible be kept from the secular courts. 

Art. XVI 
If one of the two congregations, may it be 
which it may (from which however the Lord 
preserve us) will not adhere to these articles, 
but desire to break and ignore the same or any 
one of them, so shall that congregation be ac- 



counted as the disturber of the harmony and 
peace and shall forfeit its right in the church ; 
and shall not be allowed to hold any services in 
it until they fulfill and come up to the broken 
article. This XVI Article is for no other pur- 
pose, but that through it all strife and all dissen- 
sion may be prevented and that peace and har- 
mony may abide and endure forever. 

Art. XVII 
It is agreed that on the 24th of May in the 
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
and ninety the cornerstone of this union church 
shall be laid ; at which solemn celebration, the 
two neighboring reverend pastor, the reverend 
pastor Daniel Lehman on the Lutheran side, and 
the reverend pastor lohann Hcnrich Hclffrich on 
the Reformed side, shall deliver sermons suitable 
to the occasion. 

Art. XVIII 

These articles, which the members of both con- 
gregations have accepted and promised to ob- 
serve, and which have been undersigned in the 
name of the two congregations by the chosen 
building committee and made legal by the aiSxing 
of their seals, besides a confession of faith 
[catechism] of each of the Evangelical congre- 
gations as well as a short account of the govern- 
ment under which we live, shall be placed in the 
cornerstone, as an abiding memorial ; and a copy 
of these already mentioned articles, shall be en- 
tered upon the church record for a continuous 
reminder, and a more strict observance. 

That the members of both the Evangelical 
congregations, the Reformed as well as the Luth- 
eran, entirely approve all the articles of this 
document, and desire to keep them inviolable, we 
the undersigned building committee (the elders 
and deacons have not as yet been chosen) in 
the name of members of both congregations ac- 
knowledge with our hand and seal, done on the 
24th of May Anno Domini One Thousand Seven 
Hundred and Ninety, and in the fourteenth year 
of the declared independence, by the thirteen 
states from the crown of England, and in the 
seventh year of the succeeding peace, at which 
time England acknowledged the independence of 
the states. 

The elected building committee on the Lutheran 
side: 

Jacob Herrman, 
Jacob Sweier, 
Michael Werlein. 

The elected building committee on the Re- 
formed side : 

George Pfister. 
Jermias Kolb, 
Peter Chsistman. 

Herewith follows the S5'stem of government 
under which this church was built. 

The system of government for the United 
States which was inaugurated last year, con- 
sists of a President, who is at present George 
Wasliiiigton, and a Vice President who is John. 
Adams, of a House of Senatorcn to which each 
state elects two, and of a House of Rcpraesentaten 
to which each state elects more or less accord- 
ing to its population. Our state has for the 
present eight Repraescntauten. As to the system 
of Government of our state, a printed sketch of 
it is deposited in the cornerstone which system 
was but lately in the month of .■\ugust recognized 
as permanent and binding. It was accepted and 
inaugurated in our state. The plan consists of a 
Gouverneur who is Thomas Mifflin, and of a 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



83 



House of Senatoren and of a House of Reprac- 
sentanten. In the meantime two more states, 
namely Vermont and Kentucky, have been added 
to the thirteen States. 

This union church was dedicated in the pres- 
ence of a very large concourse of people, on the 
7th of August, 1791, by the Reverend Daniel 
Lehman and the Reverend Joh. Henrieh Helffrich 
after which both of the reverend pastors were 
elected and accepted by the congregations as 
their regular pastors. 

The schoolmaster accepted by both congrega- 
tions is Abraham Dauber. 

Because the building committee refuse to ac- 
cept the two offices of Elder and Deacon, since 
they had so much trouble during the erection of 
the church, therefore the following were elected : 

On the Reformed side : 

NiCOLAUS KlEFFER, 

Georg Kemp. 

Elders. 

Johannes Siegfried, 
Simon Georg, 
Johannes Levan, Jr. 
Deacons. 

On the Lutheran side : 

George KistlEr^ 
Fetter Mattern, 

Elders. 

Johannes Bast, 
Abraham BiEhl, 
Nicholaus Kutz, 

Deacons. 

These articles were recorded in this book (in 
the church book) on the Qth of February, 1792. 



Preamble and Constitution Governing the 
Schoolhouse 

A school house of stone, having been erected, 
near by the church in Kutztown, in Maxatawny 
Township, Berks County, by both congregations, 
namely the Lutheran and Reformed, as a union 
school house, therefore we the undersigned build- 
ing committee of the above named school house 
and church as well as the church councils of both 
congregations do, in the name of both congre- 
gations, forever establish the following Consti- 
tution or Regulations and Directions. 

1. An annual meeting shall be held every year 
in the month of November at which time five 
trustees shall be chosen from the congregations. 
The first year three trustees shall be chosen from 
the Lutheran congregation and two trustees from 
the Reformed congregation, and the next year 
three from the Reformed congregation and two 
from the Lutheran congregation, and so on al- 
ternating yearly, and they shall be elected by 
ballot. At all elections two judges shall be chosen 
from each of the two congregations, who shall 
conduct the election and read the cast ballots : 
and those receiving the highest votes shall serve 
for one year. 

2. These five trustees shall have all care and 
control of the said school house, and they are 
hereby commanded or at least a majority of "them, 
to arrange every three months (Vierteljahr) with 
the Pastors, Elders, Deacons and several mem- 
bers from each congregation for an examination, 
and to conduct the examination in the presence 
of the schoolmaster, and to see to it with all 
earnestness that the instruction of the youth is 
not neglected. . . ■ , ■ , ' : 



3. The schoolmaster shall be elected by ballot, 
and if two or three are nominated they shall be. 
in the manner already indicated, elected by the 
members of both congregations, and the one 
receiving the highest number of votes shall serve 
and reside in the school house. And he is hereb3' 
char.ffed with the duty of leading the singing in 
the Kutztown congregation, as well as to play 
the Organ at each service, also to teach in the 
school the children, with all earnestness to pray, 
spell, read, write, singing and to reckon, as well 
as, without discrimination, to teach the children 
of both congregations the Catechism, also in sum- 
mer to conduct catechetical instruction when there 
are no services, and to confer from time to time 
with the trustees on matters relating to the wel- 
fare of the school. 

Further he shall ring the church bell, for 
which he is to be paid, every morning at eight 
o'clock and at noon at twelve o'clock during the 
whole year, except on Sundays when it shall be 
rung for services, according to our custom. 

4. Should it happen that complaint be lodged 
with the trustees, against the schoolmaster resid- 
ing in the school house ; that he does not do his 
duty or fulfill his office, or that he discriminates 
between the children, or that he does not conduct 
himself soberly and discreetly, the trustees shall 
assemble and inquire into the matter. If they 
find the complaint sustained they may reprimand 
the school master and encourage him to do better. 
But if he shall not amend they, or a majority of 
them, shall notify him that, at the expiration of 
three months, he must remove from the school 
house. And they shall also make it known 
through the newspaper that a teacher is desired. 
As soon as one or more teachers have applied, 
the members of both congres^ations shall hold 
an election as above designated. In no case shall 
a teacher be elected for a longer term than one 
year. 

5. And because in the said school house a room 
is also provided for an English school, the afore- 
said trustees are herewith instructed, next fall 
as early as possible, to engage an English teacher, 
who shall possess a good character and be able 
to speak, read, write and reckon well in English, 
for the winter and long_er if a sufficient number 
of scholars present themselves. If it should 
hannen that the English school be conducted dur- 
ing the whole year, then the English teacher 
shall be elected in the same tiammer as the 
German teacher. 

6. The yearly elected trustees of the above 
mentioned school house shall, at all times, have 
charge of the building, and they or a majority 
of them are hereby instructed to keen it in 
"'ood condition, as well as provide the adjoining 
lots with stables and fences as they or a majority 
of them may see fit. Both congregations promise 
to pay their part, whenever it becomes necessary. 

Approved and undersigned by the members of 
both congregations, as trustees of the church 
and school house, as well as the church council, 
this the fifteenth day of March, in the year of 
our Lord 1805. 

Building Committee of the Church : 

Jacob Herman Tacob Brobst 

Peter Christraan David Klein 
George Pfister 

Building Committee of Schoolhouse : 

Jacob Levan, Jr. H»rnrich Heist 

Jacob Kutz, Jr. John Bieber. Jr. 

Elders of the Church: 

George Kemp . . .Tacob Kutz 

John Bieber - . Philip Meyer . 



84 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Deacons : 

Michael Heldenbrand 
Peter Schafer 
John Bieber, Jr. 



Jacob Levan, Jr. 
John Kutz 



To the above the committee adds a lengthy note 
in which they declare that the regulations shall 
be considered only as by-laws to the original 
constitution and where they differ to be ot 
no effect, so that the original constitution may 
remain unaltered; also that the deed for lots 
numbered 87 and 88, was given to the congre- 
<^ation ■May 6, 1804 by Jacob Herman, and the 
proprietors' deed bv Heinrich Kohler, according 
to the conditions of the original church regu- 
lations for school purposes. . 

The late Rev. F. K. Levan, D. D., m a paper 
read before the Pennsylvania German Society, 
entitled ■•Ma.vataivnv Prior to 1800," relates an 
incident how his great-grandfather Co Feter 
Klein who late in life founded the village ot 
Klinesville, prevented one of these self appointed 
ministers from conducting services in the new 
church (1791)- 

"One day he [Col. Peter Klein] was told 
that on the next Sunday there would be serv- 
ices in the church in Kutztown by a strange 
minister. So early on Sunday morning, he 
saddled his horse and rode to the town. He 
[being an elder] went to the sexton and got 
the keys of the church and then took his 
position on the steps of the entrance. He 
would not unlock and so prevented the ring- 
ing of the church bell. When the crowd be- 
gan to gather and questioned him he called 
attention to the resolution passed. The new 
minister was meanwhile at the tavern, and 
others with him. At last he, with his com- 
pany came. "What is the difficultv? was the 
inquirv." Let the minister show his papers. 
Well he had none, or had lost theni_ or for- 
gotten them. Then followed much Knimmcx 
und Grades. We can imaeine the scene and 
the opinions expressed — very varying. At 
last Col. Peter Klein grew tired of it, and 
stepping forward, he said with a meaning in 
his voice which his well known physi<-al 
strength amply supported : "Peter has the 
keys to the kingdom of heaven, and today 
no one enters in." 

The following list of officers of St. John's 
union congregations are appended to the Laws 
and Reeulations in the pamphlet published in 
1846. The dates affixed to their names show that 
they were in service in those years : but do not 
in every case, give the length of service. Thus 
Tacob Levan 1826-46 indicates that he served 
in the capacity of elder from 1826 to 1846. but 
his services may have begun a few years earlier 
and extended beyond 1846. 

Eiders 
Reformed 

Nicholaus Kieffer, 1791 
George Kemp, 17QI-05 
Philip Meyer, 1805-11 
Jacob Levan, 1826-46 
Philip Schaeffer, — -1846-? 

Lutheran 

George Kistler, 1791 
Peter Mathern, 1791 
John Bieber, 181 1-44 
Tacob Kutz, 1822-46 
Jacob Biehl. 1822-46 
Heinrich Heffner, i8j6 
Heinrich Xander, 1846 



Deacons 

Reformed 

Johann Siegfried, 1791 
Simon George, 1791 
Johann Levan, Jr., 1791 
Philip Michael, 1795 
Philip Klein, 1797-9'^ 
John Fink, 1801 
Peter Klein 
Jacob Levan, 1802 
Peter Schaeffer, 1803-11 
Abraham Wanner, 1806 
Dewah Wink, 1809-13 
Daniel Kemp, 1808-12 
Philip Schaeffer, 1810-13 
Johann Siegfried, 1812 
Jacob Levan, 1813-18 
Johann Mohn, 1813 
Jacob Graff, 1816-22 
John Wanner, 1820-25 
George Kemp, 1821-23 
Daniel Hottenstein, 1822-26 
John Palzgrove, 1822-25 
George Schafer, 1823-27 
Daniel Kemp, Jr., 1826-28 
John Fister, 1825-29 
David Kutz, 1827-32 
Jonathan Schmick, 1828-29 
Jacob Levan, 1829-32 
Wm. Heidenreich, 1829-34 
John Rahn, 1832-35 
Jonathan Bar, 1832-35 
David Graff, 1834-39 
Samuel Kutz, i8.'^5-37 
John F. Levan, 1836-41 
John Scherrer, 1837-42 
George Kemp, 1841-46 
Gideon Butz, 1842-46 
Fayette Schodler, 1842-46 

Lutheran 

Johann Bast, 1791 
Abraham Biehl, 1 791-95 
Nicholaus Kutz, I79I-99 
Jacob Esser, 1796-99 
John Bieber, 1799 
John Kutz, 1799 
Abraham Merkel, 1800 
Jacob Christ, 1801-03 
Michael Heldenbrand, 1803-06 
John Bieber, Jr., 1805 
Solomon Kutz, 1806 
Isaac Bieber, 1806 
Heinrich Kistler, 1806 
Gabriel Old, 1809-15 
Conrad Schmelzer, 1810-12 
Christman Schweier, 1811-12 
Jacob Biehl, 1812-16 
Daniel Merkel, 1816 
Dewald Bieber, 1815-20 
Jacob Bald}', 1817-21 
Jacob Bieber, 1820-26 
Daniel Biehl, 1821-25 
Jacob Esser, 1825-29 
Tacob Merkel, 1823-25 
Jacob Heffner, 1824-28 
Tacob Biehl, 1827-.30 
Tohn Fischer, 1828-32 
George Bieber, 1829-3.-! 
Daniel Merkel. Jr., 1830-,!^ 
Daniel Hinterleiter, 1832-36 
Gideon Biehl, 183^-36 
Georg Humbert, 18.^3-37 
Peter Deischer, 1836-41 
Tohn S. Bieber, 1837-41 
Daniel B. Kutz, 1837-41 
Heinrich Heffner, 1841-4S 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



85 



Jacob Xander, 1841-45 
Daniel Braum, 1841-46 
Samuel Kutz, 184^-46 
Heinrich CroU, 1845-46 

Treasurer 
On January i, 1813, the office of Kassirer 
(treasurer) created at the annual congregational 
meeting, at which time Heinrich Heist was chos- 
en. No other name has been discovered except 
that of Benjamin Schneider to whom in 1844, as 
treasurer of the congregation the church keys 
were entrusted, "because at that time no teacher 
was hving in the school house." He was also 
the treasurer in 1846. 

Trustees ov the Congreoation 
Reformed 

George Pfister, 1789-1839 
Jeremias Kolb, 1789 
Peter Christman, 1789-1813 
David Klein, 1805 
Michael Scherer, 1813-28 
Daniel Kemp, 1813 
Charles Schmick, 1828-45 
Jacob Graff, 1839-46 
Jacob L. Levan, 1845-46 
Daniel Kemp, 1846 

Littheran 

Jacob Herman, 1789-1805 
Jacob Schweier, 1789 
Michael Werlein, 1789 
Jacob Probst, 1805 
Nicholaus Ernst, 181 1 
Johann Bast, 1811 
Daniel Merkel, 1822-46 
Heinrich Heist, 1844 
Daniel B. Kutz, 1844-46 
George Humbert, 1846 

Trustees of the Schoolhouse 
Jacob Levan, Jr., 1805 
Jacob Kutz, Jr., 1805 
John Seigfried, Sr., 1814 
John Bieber, 1805 
Heinrich Heist, 1805 
Jacob Schweyer, 1814 



New Building 

For four score and six years the people of 
Kutztown and vicinity worshipped in the old 
church. However as the congregation increased 
the peed of a larger building was felt and on 
April 4, 1876, the joint vestry decided to sub- 
mit the erection of a new edifice to the congre- 
gations, .''u the vote taken on the 17th of the 
same month it was found that two hundred and 
seventy-nine favored a new building and seventy- 
seven were opposed to one. Preparations were 
immediately made for the building of a new 
structure and the following committee appointed 
to solicit subscriptions : Charles Rahn, Charles 
Deisher, George Bieber, David Schaeffer, Jacob 
Sunday, Charles Kutz, Jonathan Bieber, John 
Christman, George Kutz, John Kemp, W. Rahn 
and Jacob Rahn. 

In the presence of a great multitude of people, 
on Whitsunday, June 4th, the corner stone was 
laid. The exercises were continued on Whit- 
Monday which in former years was regarded as 
a holiday. On the morning of Sunday preached 
Rev. B. S. Smoll, assisted by Rev. J. S. Herrmann, 
and the afternoon of the same day. Rev. B. 
Weiss, from Lenhartsville, from the text I Cor. 
3, lo-il. The corner stone was laid by Revs. J. 
S. Herrmann and B. E. Kramlich, assisted by the 



elders of the congregation. In it were deposited 
the following articles ; A Bible, a Lutheran and 
Heidelberg Catechism, Sacramental Wine and 
Wafer, the names of ,the officers, coins, a silver 
dollar, donated by Dewalt Kemp, with his name 
and year engraved on it, the Lutheran "Zeit- 
schrift," the Reformed "Hausfreund," and the 
"Kutztown Journal" ; also a document containing 
a resolution that the congregations shall remain 
Lutheran and Reformed as long as five members 
in good standing shall desire it. On Monday 
morning Rev. B. Weiss preached again, and in 
the afternoon. Rev. D. Humbert, of Bowers. The 
old cornerstone was again laid by Rev. J. S. Herr- 
mann, who also delivered an affecting address. 
In it were deposited an old Bible, presented by 
Charles Kutz, of Kutztown, an old Hymn Book, 
the old Constitution of the congregations, with 
all the names of the officers to the present time, 
a silver Quarter Dollar and a Five Cent piece, 
donated by the old bell-ringer, Charles O'Neal. 

The church was dedicated the following year, 
October 28, 1877, by the pastors in charp^e, Revs. 
J. S. Herrmann and J. J. Cressman. They were 
assisted by Revs. E. V. Gerhard, D. D., and N. 
C. Schaeffer, D. D., Reformed, and bv Revs. 
J. B. Rath, B. E. Kramlich and L. Groh, D. D., 
then president of the Conference, Lutherans. The 
structure is a fine example of church architecture 
of its period. It has a seating capacity of one 
thousand besides a large basement used for 
Sunday School purposes. 

SUNDAY SCHOOLS 

The history of the Sunday school in Kutz- 
town is almost coextensive as to time with that 
of the borough. The first Sunday school was 
established about 1826. For the history of this 
important branch of church activity for the first 
half century we are indebted to Professor Ermen- 
trout, in whose "Historical Sketch" we find ; 

About fifty years ago [1826] under the name of 
the "Kutztown Sunday School Union," was or- 
ganized the first Sunday School. It occupied an 
independent position. Prior to that time religious 
instruction was imparted to the young by the 
preachers, and, during the summer, on the Lord's 
Day, by the organists who also taught the daily 
parochial school. In the fatherland it was, and 
still is, the custom that, on every Sunday after- 
noon, to the children, assembled in the church, 
xvas explained the catechism by the preacher. But, 
as the pastors here were over-burdened with 
work, it became necessary that what is now 
known as the Sunday School, should be organized. 
The opposition to it, which at first was strong, 
soon gave way. Soon, in addition to the one 
just mentioned, were established the "German Re- 
formed and Lutheran Sunday School," and the 
"German Reformed Sunday School." Thus, at 
one time, three schools vied with one another in 
training up the children in the way which they 
sought to go. The last named school having 
drained the first one named of its members, on 
April 24, 1868, there was established iu place of 
the "German Reformed and Lutheran Sunday 
School," an exclusively Lutheran one. Of the 
latter the first Superintendent was E. D. Bieber, 
who also now fills the same office. 

The first Union Sunday School — Reformed and 
Lutheran — was organized by Rev. J. S. Herrmann, 
who also, for a number of years, acted as Sup- 
erintendent. Even before he became pastor in 
Kutztown, he had taken a deep interest in the 
religious education of the young. Of those who 
either superintended or taught Sunday Schools 



86 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



in our borough, we name Augustus Boas, Esq., 
now of Reading, and cashier of the "Savings 
Bank in that city," David Neff, Wm. Mason, Miss 
Ella Davis, now wife of Rev. Henry Miller, a 
Lutheran preacher, and Miss Mary Miller, now 
the wife of Dr. Schlouch, of South Easton, Pa. ; 
and last, but by no means least, Mr. John G. 
Wink, a veteran in the service, who, during a 
period of fifty years, has, in various ways, been 
connected with Sunday Schools, and from 1846- 
1857, presided over the Reformed school of this 
town. 

The second Sunday School Union, of Kutz- 
town, was organized May 26, 185 1, by the Evan- 
gelical German Methodist Association. Its first 
Superintendent was Elias Hoch. Its present of- 
ficers are, John G. Wink, Suet., H. S. Mohr. 
Asst. Supt., Treasurer and Secretary, D. B. Sny- 
der, Librarian, F. Reppert. 

Of the German Reformed School, as a sep- 
arate organization, Allen Hottenstein, Esq., was 
the first Superintendent. It is now under the 
able management of Prof. J. G. Neff and num- 
bers about ISO scholars. — 

At present (1915) each congregation has a 
Sunday School as one of its regular depart- 
niTts. 




St. John's Union Church 



REFORMED PASTORS 
Rev. John Henp.y Helfrich 
Rev. John Henry Helfrich was born at Mos- 
bach in the Palatinate, October 22., 1739 and died 
December S, 1810. He was educated at Heidel- 
berg University and was ordained to the holy 
ministry in the month of September 1761. He 
arrived in Pennsylvania in 1772 and was assigned 
to the Maxatawny charge. During his ministry 
he served the following congregations : — Kutz- 
town, Bowers, Longswamp, Western Salisbury, 
Unper Milford, Trexlertown, Weisenberg, Low- 
hill, Heidelberg, Lynntown, Ziegel ; in addition to 
these he frequently supplied neighboring congre- 
gStions. During the Friess insurrection he ap- 



peared before the authorities at Easton pleading 
for his people especially those of Macungie and 
Upper Milford, who were induced by wily leaders 
to engage in a foolish rebellion. He was clerk 
of the Reformed Coetus (Synod) in 1776 and 
again in 1785, and president of the same body 
in 1777 and 1785. During his ministry he bap- 
tized 5830 and confirmed 4000. 

Rev. Charles Gebler Herman 

Rev. Charles Gebler Herman was born in 
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., October 24, 1792, 
and died" in Maxatawny, August 4, 1863. In 1810 
he became the pastor of the Maxatawny charge 
and contnnicd for more than half a century, re- 
tiring in 1861. During his long ministry he 
served the following congregations : — Kutztown, 
Bowers, Huff's, Oley, Windsor, German's, St. 
Peter's, Dunkel's, Weis, Zion, Fogelsville, Mertz- 
town and Lehigh. Five of these congregations 
were organized by him. At his retirement the 
charge he served was divided and he was suc- 
ceeded by his two sons, Sassaman and Alfred 
J. With the death of the later, several years 
ago, a succession of ministers of the gospel of 
or teachers in the Reformed Church for a period 
of over three hundred years was broken. Rev. 
A. J. Herman, a grandson of Alfred J., has 
again taken up the gospel ministry. Thus while 
a link betwen the two is missing their services 
overlap and succession chronologically continues. 

Rev. J. Sassaman Herman 

The Rev. J. Sassaman Herman, son of the 
Rev. Charles G. Herman, succeeded to the pas- 
torate in June, i86i. He prepared for the min- 
istry in Lawrenceville, Chester Co., Pa., studying 
theology under Dr. L. Frederick Herman and 
the Revs. Mr. Guldin and Albert Helfenstein. 
He preached, while yet a student, in English at 
St. Vincent's and Brownback's, Chester county. 
He was ordained in Siegfried's (Maxatawny) 
Church, Sept. 8, 1835, by the Revs. F. E. Vander- 
sloot, A. L. Herman, and Thomas N. Leinbach. 
Together with his father, he served for eight 
years sixteen congregations. In 1844 he became 
sole pastor of Weiss', Grimsville, Dunkel's, Wind- 
sor, St. Peter's, Fleetwood, Huff's, and New Jeru- 
salem churches. Of the Kutztown congregation 
he became pastor in 1861. He was greatly in- 
terested in community affairs and in education. 
He was editor of "Der Hirt," sending out with 
each number also "The Kutztown Advertiser." 
It was largely through his efforts that Fairview 
Seminary, indirect predecessor of the Kej'stone 
State Normal School, was established. At tht 
time of his death, January 7, 1889, he was pastor 
of St. John's, Kutztown, and of three other con- 
gregations. He attained the age of 70 years, 8 
months, and 27 days. He is buried at Kutztown. 
He was succeeded in the pastorate of St. John's 
by 

Rev. John HiEster LEinbach 

Rev. John H. Leinbach, son of Rev. Aaron 
S. Leinbach, D. D., was born in Reading, Pa., 
January 14, 1853. He received his early training 
in the public schools oi Reading. In 1875 he 
was graduated with honors from Franklin and 
Marshall College. Upon graduation from the 
Easte.'- 1 Iheclog'cal Seminary in 1878 he was or- 
dained ti the holy ministry and assisted his fath- 
er. In 1880 he became pastor of St. John's 
congregation, Kutztown, serving in addition St. 
Peter's congregation and St. Paul's, Amityville. 
After an illness extending over the greater part 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



87 



of a year he died August 26, 1895. During the 
illness of Rev. Leinbach and the vacancy caused 
by his aeLth, the congregation was supphed by 
Reverends C. E. Schaeffer, D. D., Secretary of 
the Board of Home Missions ; J. G. Rupp, Field 
Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions; Geo. 
W. Richards, D. D., Professor of Church His- 
tory in the Eastern Seminary and Prof. H. M. 
J. Klein, Ph. D., Professor of History in Frank- 
lin and Marshall College. His successor Rev.. 
E. H. Leinbach was installed October 4, 1896. 

The present officers of St. John's Reformed 
congregation are ; Elders, Daniel S. Angstadt, 
James G. Treichler, George F. Wink and Irvin 
O. Sensenderfer ; Deacons, William D. Kieffer, 
Solon E. C. Kutz, Nervin P. Smith and John 
D. F. Wink ; Trustees, Alvin J. Miller, Charles A. 
Kutz, Albert S. Sarig and Cyrus P. Rahn. 

During the present pastorate the Heidelberg 
League and the Zwingli Missionary Society were 
organized. There is also a well organized Sun- 
day School connected with the congregation of 
which George J. Schaeffer is Superintendent and 
Paul W. Metzger Assistant Superintendent. 

This was a Union Sunday School until May 8, 
1892, when it became exclusively Reformed. Also 
on the sth of June, 1892, a constitution, exclusive- 
ly Reformed, was adopted. The congregation 
now has a separate organist, choir and treasurer, 
in fact, there is nothing that is union but the 
building. Both the congregation and the Sunday 
school are in a flourishing condition ; the former 
number about 37=^, and the latter 360. 



LUTHERAN PASTORS 

Rev. John KnoskE 

Rev. John Knoske was born June 24, 1779, in 
Herrenstadt, near Breslau, Schleswig, Germany. 
Shortly before his first birthday anniversary his 
father brought him to Berlin where he obtained 
both military and academic training. He came 
to America in 1801 and the following year was 
licensed to preach and was ordained at Harris- 
burg, June 1810. He took up residence in Kutz- 
town, upon succeeding Rev. Lehman. He gradu- 
ally drooped some of the more distant congre- 
gations of the charge and from 1840 until his 
retirement in 3849 he served onlv one congre- 
gation besides that of Kutztown. He removed 
to Reading, where on September 24, 1859, just 
three months after having reached the mile post 
of four score years, he died. 

Rev. Daniel Koheer 

Rev. Daniel Kohler was born in Northumber- 
land County; studied theologv at the Gettysburg 
Seminary and was ordained in 1838. In 1839 he 
became the pastor of St. John's, Kutztown, and 
continued until 1852, in connection with which 
he served at various times the congregation of 
Oley, Friedensburg, Bern, Lobachsville, Price- 
town and Upper Milford. At the last session of 
the Ministerial, April 7, 185,3, it was ordered that 
the name of Daniel Kohler "be stricken from our 
Roll of Alinisters." 

Rev. Gustav Adolph HintereEitEr, D. D. 

Rev. Gustav Adolph Hinterleiter, D. D., was 
born in Weisenberg, Bavaria, October 2, 1824. 
He came to America in 1849 and became assist- 
ant to Rev. W. P. Kramer in Bucks County. 
In the early part of 1852 he became the pastor 
of the Kutztown congregation. In addition to 
which he also served the congregations of Fried- 



ensberg, Oley, Lobachsville, New Jerusalem and 
Dunkel's. In 1866 he removed to Pottsville, 
where he was pastor of the German congrega- 
tion until he was partially disabled by a paraly- 
tic stroke. He was the father of thirteen chil- 
dren, eight of whom survived him at the time 
of his death, March 13, 1901. 

Rev. George Frederic SpiEker, D. D. 

Rev. George Frederic Spieker, D. D. was born 
at Elk Ridge Landing, Maryland. He was gradu- 
ated from the Baltimore City College in 1863 
and from Mt. Airy Seminary in 1867. The same 
year he became the pastor of the Kutztown 
charge, composed of the congregations at Kutz- 
town, Moselm and Pricetown. In 1883 he re- 
moved to Philadelphia, where he became the 
pastor of St. Michael's congregation. He was 
called to a professorship in Mt. Airy Seminary 
in 1895 in which he continued until the time of 
his death. He was married to Hannah Hoch, a 
daughter of William Hoch. Dr. Spieker edited 
for a time several Lutheran publications and 
published a number of standard Lutheran works. 
His son the Rev. Charles Garash Spieker died 
recently. 

Rev. John J. Cressman 

Rev. John J. Cressman, son of Abraham J. and 
Lydia (Frutchey) Cressman, was born at Peters- 
ville, Northampton County, June 10, 1841. He 
entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg in 
i860, and was graduated in 1864. In 1863 he 
enlisted in the Company A, Twentv-sixth Regi- 
ment, Pennsylvania Militia. He was taken pris- 
oner and paroled at Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. 
Upon graduation from Mt. Airy Seminary in 
1867 he became oastor of a congregation in 
South Easton and continued for a tieriod of 
ten years. In connection with his pastoral duties 
he was prinicapl of the Easton High School for 
six years. In 1877 he became the pastor of St. 
John's congregation, Kutztown, and continued 
until the time of his death, January 15, 1915. 
In connection with St. John's, Rev. Cressman 
served the congregations of North Heidelberg, 
Frieden's, Bernville and Bethel until 1901. He 
was succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. J. 
W. Bittner, November 1, 1914. 

In 1896 the Union congregation was dissolved 
and there now exist two distinct congregations. 
The building is however still used by both con- 
gregations, and is used by the Lutheran congre- 
gation every alternate week. The congrega- 
tion numbers 340 communicant members, while 
there is an average attendance of 313 in the 
Sunday School. This congregation has three 
sons active in the ministry : "The Rev. Milton 
Bieber, Field Missionary of Canada, The Rev. 
George Shiery, Millersville, Pa. and The Rev. 
Edwin L. Miller, Boston, Mass. 

The officers and members of the church council 
are : President, Rev. J- W. Bittner ; Secretary, 
Charles Herbein, and Treasurer, Austin Herman ; 
Trustees, George Schuler, Toel Trexler, Charles 
Herbein, and Samuel M. Smith ; Elders, Edwin 
Kutz, Joshua Angstadt, James O. Herman and 
Milton Wessner; Deacons, Dr. H. W. Saul, Har- 
rv Miller, Jeremiah Benecoff, and William Wess- 



TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 
CHURCH 

Trinity congregation had its real beginning 
when a Lutheran Sunday School was organized 



88 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




Trinity Lutheran Church and Ministers of the Congregation 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



89 



on April 24, 1868, by a number of members of 
the old St. John's congregation, of town. This 
was followed by the erection of a Chapel on 
the ground now occupied b}' Trinity Church. The 
Chanel was dedicated during Christmas week of 
1875, by the Rev. G. F. Speiker, D. D., oastor 
of St. John's congregation. The dedicatory ser- 
mon was preached by the Rev. D. K. Humbert. 
The other pastors who assisted in the dedica- 
tion services were Revs. B. E. Kramlich, S. R. 
Home, D. D., W. B. Fox, and Irwin W. Beiber. 

Trinity congregation was organized on May 
27, 1876. Its first Church Council consisted of 
the following: Elders, Richard Miller, John H. 
Humbert, Esq., Daniel Hinterleiter, Sr., Jacob 
R. Heffner ; Deacons, Daniel K. Springer, Sam- 
uel W. Wiltrout, Clinton Bieber and Eugene D. 
Bieber ; 1 rustees, Isaac F. Christ, Daniel Yax- 
theimer, Jacob Hinterleiter, Peter Krause. The 
Rev. G. F. Spieker, D. D., having resigned as 
pastor of St. John's congregation was unanimous- 
ly elected pastor of the newly formed congre- 
gation He served the congregation until Sept. 
30, 188.3. 

The congregation worshipped in the Chapel 
until 1894 when the present edifice was erected. 
The Building Committee consisted of Chas. W. 
Miller, Walter B. Bieber, Wm. G. Hinterleiter 
and Chas. D. Herman. This committee also 
served as Finance Committee and throu.gh their 
untiring efforts, and the liberal contributions of 
the members the building was dedicated prac- 
tically free of debt. The organ was .eiven by 
Mrs. Hannah Biehl as a memorial to her hus- 
band and son. In 1912 the parsonage was pur- 
chased and during the present year the congre- 
gation has built the present commodious parish 
house and Sundav School rooms. 



Rev. Wm. Albert Christian Mueixer 

Rev. Mueller was born at Charlestown, South 
Carolina, April 15, 1857. He received his aca- 
demic training in the gymnasium of Zwebonesken, 
Baravia Seminary. He was graduated from the 
Mt. Airy Seminar}' in 1878. In 1884 he became 
the pastor of the Kutztown charge and con- 
tinued until September 28, 1890, when he removed 
to Warren, Pa., where he remained until Jan- 
uary 1892 when he became a pastor with his 
father, the Rev. L. Mueller, D. D., of St. Mat- 
hew's congregation in Charlestown. Upon the 
death of his father in 1898 he became the sole 
pastor. 

Rev. Sydney L. Harkey, D. D. 

Dr. S. L. Harkey, D. D. was born in North 
Carolina, April 3, 1827. With his parents he re- 
moved to Illinois. He received his academic 
training in the Hillsboro Academy and the Penn- 
.sylvania College. He studied theology with his 
brother. Dr. Simon W. He was licensed in 1848 
at Cumberland, Maryland. In 1862 he served as 
chaplain in the army. During his long ministr\' 
he served a number of charges in the middle 
west. For several years he taught in the Augus- 
tana Theological Seminary. He held many posi- 
tions of honor and trust in the Lutheran church. 
Anions them were president of the Illinois Synod 
18.^6-1860, of the Synod of Illinois and Adjacent 
Lakes 1867-1869, Secretary of the General Council 
1885-18S7, and President of the Reading Confer- 
ence. He served Trinity congregation from 1891 
to 1901. He published a number of books on 
art and music. He died at Kutztown September 
23, 1901, and was buried in Fairview cemetery. 



Rev. Ernst P. Pfatteicher, Ph. D. 

Rev. Ernst P. Pfatteicher, son of Rev. Ph. 
and Emma (Spaeth) Pfatteicher, was born at 
Easton, July 28, 1874. He received his early 
training in the Easton Academy, Real Schule at 
Eislingen and the Easton High School. He was 
graduated from Lafayette College in 1895 and 
the Mt. Airy Seminary in 1898. From 1808 to 
1902 he was assistant to Rev. Theodore Schmauk, 
D. D., Salem, Lebanon. In January 1902 he be- 
came successor to Dr. S. L. Harkev as pastor 
of Trinity congregation, Kutztown. He resigned 
in October of the same year to become the pastor 
of Trinity congregation, Norristown. Dr. Pfat- 
teicher is a fine scholar and frequently contributes 
to the perodicals of the Lutheran Church. 



ST. PAUL'S REFORMED CHURCH 

St. Paul's congregation is the outgrowth of a 
Reformed Sunday School organized prior to 1881. 




This school sometimes met in halls and sometimes 
in public school buildings until the erection ot 
the church. The congregation was organized by 
a committee appointed by Lehigh Classis at its 
annual meeting in the spring of 1886, on March 
12, 1887. The corner stone of the church was 
laid on Whit Sunday 1886 by Rev. Edwin A. 
Gernant, then pastor of Zion's Reformed, Allen- 
town, Pa. The church was dedicated April 13, 
1887. Rev. N. S. Strassburger preached in the 
morning, at the afternoon service the Rev. A. J. 
Herman tJreaching. The church was dedicated 
and the officers were installed, who were : Elders, 
David Kemp, Isaac Wagonhorst, Edward Hotten- 
stein, M. D., and Lewis B. Butz : Deacons. Isaac 
L. DeTurk, Alfred Neff, Cyrus J. Rhode. WilHam 
Stimmel ; Trustees, Nathan S. Kemp, William S. 
Kutz, David Moyer and J. Daniel Scharadin. 
The building committee under whose supervis- 
ion the church was erected were : David H. 



90 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Hottenstein, Lewis B. Butz, Nathan S. Kemp, Ed. 
Hottenstein, M. D., Rev. Nathan C. Schaeffer, D. 
D., LL. D., William F. Stimmel, J. Daniel Shara- 
din and Alfred G. Xeff. The Rev. G. A. Schwedes 
was the first pastor of the congregation, serving 
from June 1888 until September i, i88g. He was 
succeeded by Rev. F. B. Hahn, who served until 
Februar}', 1893. Rev. Hahn was succeeded by the 
present pastor. Rev. George B. Smith, February 
ID, 1893. 

The original edifice has been enhanced by 
stained glass windows and the installation of a 
pipe organ. In 1913 a suitable Sunday School 
b.uilding was added. The membership is about 




Grace United Evangei,icai, Church 



five hundred. Besides the Sunday School, the 
Ladies' Aid Society and the Woman's Mission- 
ary Society have proven valuable auxilaries to 
the congregation. 

The present consistory is composed of elders : 
A. C. Rothermel, Litt. D., Charles W. Snyder, 
Dr. Elwood K. Steckel, Charles M. Fisher • Deac- 
ons, Eugene P. DeTurk, Ezra Hottenstein, Harry 
W. Klein, Edwin Slonecker, Byron Stein and 
Lewis M. Rahn. 

Rev. Frederick B. Hahn 

Rev. Frederick Bender Hahn, son of Richard 
and Sophia (Bender) Hahn, was born in Plain- 
field Township, Northampton County, Pa., Sep- 
tember 8, 1847. He received his classical train- 
ing at the Keystone Normal School, Mercersberg 
Academy, Franklin and Marshall College and his 
theological in the Eastern Theological Seminary. 
He was ordained June 30. 1878. Between the 
time of his ordination and his coming to Kutz- 
town, he served the following congregations : 
Greenville, Pa., Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., 
Pa., Meadville, Pa., and the EngHsh Congrega- 
tion Reformed in Cleveland, Ohio, the latter of 
which he organized. He accepted a call from the 
Kutztown charge (St. Paul's and St. Peter's, Top- 
ton) in 1889 and continued until Feb. 7, 1893, 



when he became pastor of the two newly organ- 
ized mission congregations in Reading, Faith and 
St. James. Here he labored faithfully until the 
time of his death, May i6, 1901. He is survived 
bv his wife, R. Ella Briedenbaugh and four chil- 
dren, Mary, Edith, Ruth and John. 

One of Rev. Mr. Hahn's daughters. Miss Ruth, 
has been for some years serving as trained nurse 
in China, a missionary of the Reformed Church. 



GRACE UNITED EVANGELICAL 

The first sermon by a minister of the Evan- 
gelical Association, delivered in Kutztown, was by 
the Rev. Bishop John Seybert, April 12, 1828, 
in the house of Peter Neff. From this time on 
until 1848 occasional services were conducted in 
private houses. In 1850 a congregation was or- 
ganized, the lot on Main street purchased and 
a meeting house thirty-five by forty-five feet 
erected. The structure was of brick and cost 
eleven hundred dollars. The trustees who were 
also the leaders were : Jacob Stoudt, Solomon 
Elv and Beneville Klein. The last service in the 
old meeting house was held on May 6, 1885, after 
which it was demolished and the present hand- 
some structure erected at a cost of six thousand 
dollars. The building committee consisted of D. 
B. Snyder, John R. Gonser, Rev. W. H Weid- 
ner, Silas K. Hoch and H. B. Mohr. The Sun- 
day School was organized May 26, 1851. The 
congregation was known as Salem's. 

At the time of the church division in 1892, 
during the pastorate of Rev. S. Buntz, the build- 
ing was vacated and Grace United Evangelical 
congregation was constituted and for a time 
worshioped in Music Hall. John R. Gonser, an 
ardent supporter of the church, purchased the 
same and later donated it to the congregation. 
The Sunday School has T. S. Levan as its sup- 
erintendent and the Y. P. S. of C. E. has as its 
president, Scott A. Melot. The present Board of 
Trustees being D. W. Kline, P. S. Heffner, Robert 
Schlegel, Silas K. Hoch and Aaron Silsdorf. 

Many of her pastors have become enrolled in 
the "Choir Invisible." During the pastorate of 
Rev. D. P. Longsdorf, a modern parsonage was 
erected on Walnut street. 

The following have been its pastors and the 
time they have served, (*) the mark indicating 
those who have died : 
*J. Farnsworth, 1845 
*C. Holl, 1846-47 
*T. C. Reisner, 1848 
*W. L. Reber, 1849 
*Isaac Hess, 1850-51 
*H. Bucks, 1852 
*Isaac Hess, 1853 
*W. L. Reber, 1854-5S 
*Toseph Frey, 1856 
*Daniel Wieand, 1857-58 
*A. Ziegenfus, 185Q-60 
*Edmund Butz, 1861-62 
*T. P. Leib, 1863 
*R. N. Lichtenwalner, 1864 
*Tacob Zern, i86';-66 
*A. F Leopold, 1867-68 

F. Sechrist, 1869 
*C. Gingrich, 1870-71 
*Moses Dissinger, 1872 
*Toseph Specht, 1873 

F. Sechrist, 1874 
*A. Ziegenfus, 1875-76 

D. S. Stauffer, 1877-79 
*A. L. Yeakel, 1880 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



91 



*A. Ziegenfus, 1881 
*r. Laros, 1882 
*']. L. Werner, 1883 
*VV. H. Weidner, 1884-86 
*Daniel Yingst, 1887-89 
*.T. \V. Whoerle, 1889 
*Edniund Butz, 1890-92 

Stephen A. Buntz, 1892-96 
*A. L. Erisman, i8g6 

H. C. Lutz, 1897 



W. L. Teel, 1897 
*D. F. Kostenbader, 1891-1902 

H. L. Yeakel, 1902-06 

I. J. Reitz, 1906 

H. J. Kline, 1907-11 

D. P. Longsdorf, 1911-15 

S. N. Dissinger, 1915 
On the rear end of the lot a number of the 
early adherents of the denomination lie buried 
among them Reuben Stoudt. 



EDUCATIONAL HISTORY 



EarIvY Interest in Education 

From the beginning the people of this 
section, Kutztown, Maxatawny, and contig- 
uous townships, have been deeply interested 
in education. In large measure what Dr. 
Benjamin Rush wrote in 1789, in his "Ac- 
count of the Manners of the German In- 
habitants" of Pennsylvania, has been true 
of those who settled this valley. In his book 
one may read : 

"All the different sects among them are par- 
ticularly attentive to the religious education of 
their children, and to the establishment and sup- 
port of the Christian religion. For this purpose 
they settle as much as possible together, and 
make the erection of a school house and a place 
of worship the first object of their care. They 
commit the education and instruction of their 
children in a peculiar manner to the ministers 
and officers of their churches : — hence they grow 
up with prejudice in favor of public worship 
and of the obligations of Christianity. Such has 
been the influence of a pious education among 
the Germans in Pennsylvania that in the course 
of nineteen years only one of them has ever been 
brought to a place of public shame or punish- 
ment." 

In 1743, the residents of Richmond town- 
ship adopted the following provision : 

"It is our most earnest desire that the teacher, 
as well as the preacher, shall be fairly compensat- 
ed so that he can live with his family as an 
honest man, without being obliged to engage in 
any business foreign to his occupation. To this 
end the teacher and the preacher shall have the 
land and the house on it free, as long as they 
officially serve the congregation." 

The Earliest Schoolhouses 
Where the first schools in this section 
were located, when they were built, and the 
names of the teachers who taught in them 
are matters, apparently, now not discover- 
able. From the foregoing resolution of 
Richmond residents it may be inferred that 
there was a school connected with the old 
R^oselem Lutheran Church. There was 



such a school, a church or parochial school, 
standing near the old Maxatanien Reformed 
Church along the Saucony, on the Nicks 
farm, now owned by Cyrus J. Rhode and 
John K. Deisher, a short distance south- 
east of Kutztown. It stood on the "New 
Maxatawny Road," leading from Oley to 
Levan's (See history of "the Old Easton 
Road.") The school house, the last vestige 
of which has long since disappeared, is sup- 
posed to have been built of stone, as was 
also the church. When the large stone 
house of Daniel Levan, now the property 
of Professor John J. Hottenstein, was 
erected, the stone of the abandoned 
church, and, possibly, of the school house 
also, were used in its erection. Tradition 
states that the church was erected in 1755 
and that may be assumed as the approx- 
imate date of the erection of the school 
house. Neither is shown on Shultz's map 
of the Easton Road. I75S, church and 
school house stood on a tract of five acres 
which Daniel Levan set apart for church 
and school. 

The Earliest Teachers 

Who the first teachers were none can 
tell. It is on record that Frederick Hoel- 
wig, of Longswamp, and John Valentine 
Krafift, of Richmond, were teachers in this 
section prior to 1752. The Maxatawny 
Church School House was occupied for 
school purposes, most likely, until the erec- 
tion of the new parochial school in Kutz- 
town in the early years of the nineteenth 
century. It is said that Peter Christman, 
grandfather on their mother's side, of 
Messrs. Zach T., and Jefferson C. Hoch, 
who was born about 1779, attended this 
school. Philip Geehr (born in German- 
town, Pa., died in Kutztown, 181 7), son of 
the pioneer Conrad Geehr and brother of 



92 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Baltzer Geehr, after attending the schools 
of Philadelphia, "later taught two years in 
Maxatawny." 

The Redemptioxer Schooe Master 

In the "Chronicon Ephratense," a book 
printed at Ephrata in 1786, written by two 
of the brethren of the Order of the Solitary 
in the cloister there, and translated a few 
years ago by the Rev. Dr. Max Hark, we 
may read a most interesting story of a 
pioneer school master, possibly the first in 
Maxatawny, certainly one of the first, and 
not impossibly the teacher, or one of the 
teachers, in the old stone school house on 
the Saucony, of which mention has been 
made if that building was erected earlier 
than the traditional date. Briefly told the 
story is as follows : 

Johannes Siegfried (See "Siegfried Fam- 
ily ' history,) was one of the earliest set- 
tlers of Maxatawny. One day, in the year 
1737, or thereabouts, he went to Philadel- 
phia, possibly to market produce and to get 
in exchange for it such articles needed in 
his household as were not produced on the 
farm. While he was in the city a sale of 
redemptioners took place. 

Redemptioners, in German called, Eosk- 
aeuflinge," were immigrants to .\merica 
who, because they had not the money to pa}' 
for their passage across the ocean, were sold, 
on their arrival at the port of entry, by the 
ship's captain, into temporary slavery, by 
which arrangement the captain reimbursed 
himself for the expense to which he had 
been put in bringing these immigrants to 
America. These unfortunates were sold for 
a varying term of years, for such time as 
their purchasers might think their labor as 
servants would requite the buyers for the 
money demanded by the ship-master. The 
system which was inaugurated about 1725 
and which was, at least for a time character- 
ized by almost incredible abuses and hor- 
rors, continued for more than fifty years. 
Man_y of the most prominent families of 
German descent in these parts may trace 
their descent from ancestors who were re- 
demptioners, who suffered the extortion and 
misery attendant upon that system of im- 
migration. 

Siegfried attended the auction of re- 
demptioners. He was not in need of a 
servant, but when a young man, an Eng- 
lishman, Thomas Hardie by name, was put 
up for sale and when the auctioneer, in re- 
counting the man's capabilities, informed 
the company that Hardie was well-educated, 
learned not only in English but in the 
languages and law, Siegfried, a good Mo- 



ravian, bethought himself of the need that 
there was at home for a teacher of English 
for the young people of his and his neigh- 
bors' families. So he bid for the young 
man and by paj'ment of the sum demanded, 
secured him for the term of four years 
and brought him home with him as teacher 
for his children. Thus Thomas Hardie be- 
came, probably, the first teacher in Maxa- 
tawny township. 

Whether Hardie was his real name is a 
question. It was, possibly, an assumed 
name. He was of noble birth. He had 
lived in London. His grandfather had been 
English Ambassador in Spain. His mother 
was a lady of Normandy. After complet- 
ing his education the youth "was awakened 
by God, on account of which he left his 
father's house," intending to come to .Amer- 
ica where he might join himself to one 
of the various mystical orders of the pietists 
of that time. His father attempted to keep 
him from leaving England, notifying of- 
ficials at all seaports to detain the youth. 
But the young man, disguised as a sailor, 
secured passage on a ship bound for Penn- 
sylvania. "On the voyage he threw his 
seal and everything by which his family 
might be recognized into the sea." His 
other property, money and all, which was, 
probably, not inconsiderable. Was stolen 
from him on the vo}-age b}' the rascally 
sailors, so that he arrived at Philadelphia 
penniless and "had to submit to the fate of 
being sold," and was bought by Siegfried, 
as has been told. 

It has been stated that Hardie was learned 
in the law. This qualification proved of 
"great profit" to Siegfried into whose pocket 
came all the fees of this first lawyer in 
Maxatawny. Hardie "executed all neces- 
sary papers for the neighborhood, besides 
teaching school." As the end of the four 
years approached, Hardie was anxious to 
get away. Siegfried was just as anxious 
to retain so excellent a man and, in the 
effort to keep him, offered the youth the 
hand of one of his daughters in marriage 
This Hardie declined as he also did an 
additional inducement in the form of a 
profife/ed gift of one hundred acres of land. 
He had come to America to join the mystics 
and now he was determined to find them. 
So he left Siegfried's family, left his school, 
and left his practice of law.^ 

First he went to Bethlehem. There he 
met a reception from the Moravians less 



•It would be greatly interesting if some one 
could find, among deeds and other legal docu- 
ments in possession of descendants of early set- 
tlers, any documents written by Hardie. 



CENTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



93 



friendly than was to his liking, in conse- 
quence of which he fell ill, — "his wits were 
unsettled for the first time ; of which failing- 
he was never entirely free as long as he 
lived." One is inclined to think that his 
wits may have been unsettled before that, 
when he declined Siegfried's invitation to 
become his son-in-law. However that may 
be, recovering from his disorder, he made 
his way about 1742 to Ephrata, where in 
the Order of the Solitary he found con- 
genial spirits. After receiving baptism he 
was admitted by "Friedsam," (Conrad Beis- 
sel) into "the Convent Zion, and was named 
by the Brethren, Theodoras." He was ap- 
pointed to the office of "Translater from 
German into English." This office he re- 
linquished after six months, being moved to 
leave the convent because of the confine- 
ment which he could not endure and doubt- 
less also b}' a perennial wanderlust. He 
roamed about, exercising "the office of 
teacher in the back regions of the coun- 
try." He also engaged in preaching, in 
which, as the chronicler quaintly remarks, 
he "was frequently inspired ... so that 
often but httle more would have been need- 
ed to upset the table." At last he arrived 
at I^ittsburg. But then, after a time, he be- 
came impelled to return to Ephrata. As 
he was about to start on the return trip 
a friend narrated a dream in which he had 
received a premonition that Theodoras 
would die at Ephrata. Thinking to frus- 
trate this prophecy, Theodoras (fiardie) 
put ofif his intended visit, — but for a week 
only, when "a hidden hand moved him to 
take up the project again." So to Eohrata 
he returned, but as soon as he arrived tliere 
he fell ill and after brief suffering died and 
was buried by the Brethren, with unusual 
ceremony, in their little cemetery. There, 
in an unmarked grave, reposes the dust 
of Theodoras, (Thomas Hardie). first 
school teacher and first lawyer in ]\Iaxa- 
tawny township. 

It may be of interest to note that one of 
Hardie's pupils, one of the daughters of 
Siegfried, first patron of learning in this 
valley, a daughter who as tradition asserts 
was the first white child bora in this val- 
ley, becoming the wife of John Rothermel. 
of Windsor township, became through that 
alliance ancestress of the present talented 
and capable principal of the Keystone State 
Normal School, the Rev. Dr. A. C. Rother- 
mel. What a coincidence this is that, on an 
occasion such as this — centennial of the bor- 
ough, semi-centennial of the great school, 
which indirectly had its remote origin in 
the labors of a redemotioner school master 
- — the eminent head of the school, which is 



thus the fruition of hopes and efforts of 
generations of pious Germans, should be a 
descendant of the man who brought to the 
valley its first school teacher ! 

The St. John's Parochi.m. School 

On Walnut street, a short distance east 
of the St. John's Union Church, there still 
stands an ancient stone building. This is, 
or rather was, the Parochial School of the 
St. John's Reformed and Lutheran con- 
gregations. The old Union Church, (See 
"History of the Churches") was erected 
1 790- 1 791, and was dedicated August 7th, 
1791. At a meeting of the two congrega- 
tions, held November 9th, 1789, it was re- 
solved that a school house should "be erect- 
ed jointly on a common piece of ground, 
near the church." Some delay seems to have 
taken place, and the school house was not 
erected for ten or more years. It was com- 
pleted, however, as the records show, be- 
fore March 15th, 1805, on which date a 
meeting was held at which was adoptea 
a "Preamble and CDnstitution Governing 
the School House." (See "History of the 
Churches.") 

Not much has been preserved, even by 
tradition, as to who the teachers were. 
From the (printed 1846) copy of the church 
records containing the constitution and reg- 
ulations of the united congregations, entered 
in the church book on February 9th, 1792. 
it is learned that the school master accepted 
by both congregations was Abraham Daub- 
er. Where he taught before the erection 
of the school house, or whether he taught 
at all. is not known. Benjamin Geehr, 
( grandfather of Miss Katie L. Geehr) was 
for a time the German teacher in the 
school. He was a .great singer, noted es- 
pecially for his "leading" the hymns at 
funerals. Alexander Ramsey is said also 
to have been a teacher, of English, in the 
old school, and while so engaged was elect- 
ed teacher for the Franklin Academy 
James (?) Leidy has also been named as 
one of the later teachers in the parochial 
school building. The constitution, adopted 
March i.sth, 1805, gives interesting details 
as to qualifications demanded of the teach- 
er and as to the branches to be taught and 
other duties to be oerformed by him. 

The "baumeister," or building committee, 
ni the school house were Jacob Levan. 
junior : Jacob Kutz, junior : Heinrich Heist ; 
and Tohn Bieber, junior. 

The school was, evidently German, but 
the school house was built with two room=. 
one of which was to be for an English 
teacher, who was to be eneaged bv the 
trustees early in the fall of 1805. The Eng- 



94 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



lisli school was to run during the winter 
"and longer, if a sufficient number of schol- 
ars present themselves," in which case the 
teacher was to be chosen regularl_v in the 
manner prescribed for the choice of the 
German one. 

Records are not obtainable to inform us 



as to how long this parochial school was 
continued. It remained open, probably, un- 
til Kutztown accepted the public school sys- 
tem and, for the first years thereafter, the 
old building seems to have been used for 
the newly established public school. 





I. 




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^^^^^1b 


Jmk^^MnMHMRr': 


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sm^^^B 


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1 



The Oi,d Parochial Schooi< House 



THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 



The Legislature of Pennsylvania inaugu- 
rated the public school system on the loth 
of April, 1834. Four years later, in 1838, 
it was accepted by the authorities of Kutz- 
town. 

Prior to this time the care of the instruc- 
tion of the children was intrusted to the 
churches. A short distance east of Kutz- 
town, there stood the first church, founded 
in 1755. "It had its school, which stood as 
late as 1812." When the church was re- 
moved to the town itself the same idea was 
carried into efifect. The pastors, elders, and 
deacons had charge of the school and saw 
to the appointment of the teacher. This 
authority was later given over to Trustees. 
The first schoolhouse was built in 1804. 
In 1805 arrangements were made for an 
English teacher. 

"The house erected was a double build- 
ing, one-half of the first story being divided 
into two school-rooms and the other formed 
the teacher's residence." — Peniia. School 
Report, 1877. 

These schools received their revenue to 
pay the teacher generally by charging each 



child in attendance a certain amout per day, 
generally from one and one-half to two 
cents. Of, therefore, the attendance num- 
bered 50 pupils, the pay was from 75 cents 
to $1.00 per day. Very often the attendanc;; 
was much larger, thus increasing the teach- 
er's income. It is to be noted that at this 
period the teacher was, as a rule, also the 
organist, which enlarged his pay. 

However, as the Free School System was 
adopted all this changed. L'nfortunately 
we have no records of the Public Schools 
of Kutztown until 1855. From this record 
we learn that an advanced school was 
taught in the house now occupied by Zach. 
C. Hoch. Students from the surrounding 
districts were admitted at the rate of $7.50 
a quarter. We also note that in the same 
year a summer school was conducted by 
Plannah Hall. From 1856 to 1862 this ad- 
vanced school was put into the schoolhouse 
connected with the church. 

The first School Directors in 185=; of 
which we have a record were: Elias 
Jackson, president; H. B. Von Schnetz, 
secretary; Chas. Kutz, treasurer; Daniel R. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



95 



Levan, and Augustus Capp. Mr. Von 

Schnetz having died while in office, J. D. 

Wanner was appointed in his stead. The 

teachers, with their salaries of this same 



then owned by John Miller. They tore 
down the old two-roomed building and 
erected the four-roomed building now used 
as a shirt factor}^. The directors who inaug- 




Oi,D PUBi,ic ScHooi, Building 
(Now Iviebovitz Textile Mill) 



period, were the following: No. i, George 
Shinn, $30.00; No. 2, Isaac Von Sickel, 
$25.00; No. 3, Lizzie Gotwalts, $20.00; As- 
sistant, Sarah J. Von Schnetz, $5.25. Term 
5 months. 



urated this movement were: H. F. Bickel, 
president; H. H. Schwartz, Esq., secretary; 
Daniel Zimmerman, treasurer ; Augustus 
Springer, Dr. Charles A. Gerasch, and 
Aaron B. Manderbach. The teachers were : 




The Public School Building 



In 1862 the school quarters were found 
to be insufficient for the accommodation of 
the pupils, the school directors saw fit to 
purchase a lot back of the old schoolhouse, 



Principal, John Humbert ; Robert VV. Jack- 
son and Daniel E. Schroeder. Term : 6 
months. We move ahead nine 3'ears and 
find that in the year 1880-81 the school au- 



96 



CEXTF.XMAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVX 



thorities again felt the need of additional 
accommodations ; they now had five 
schools with only four rooms on hand. At 
this time the High school was transferred to 
the old town hall with F. K. Flood, now at- 
torney at Reading, as the principal. Un- 
fortunately the minutes during this period 
are lost, so we cannot give the names of the 
School Board under whom this change was 
inaugurated. 

In 1892 a great forward movement was 
put into effect by purchasing from Augus- 
tus Wink half of the grounds on which 
the present substantial and commodious 
eight roomed building was erected. The 
directors of 1892 were: D. L. Wartzenluft, 
^resident : Isaac F. Christ, secretary; N. S. 
Kemo, treasurer ; C. J- Rhode, U. T. Miller, 
and L. A. Stein, and the teachers of 1893, 
who for the first time occunied the new 
building, were : High School, Geo. C. Bord- 
ner : Grammar, Alice Hottenstein ; Interme- 
diate, Laura W. Gross ; Secondary, Rosa 
Christ ; Primary, Annie Stein. Miss Stein 
h^ving resio-ned before the term was ended, 
Mary B. Fister was elected in her place. 
Term : 8 months ; salaries, ranging from 
$45.00 to $25.00. 

In 1909 the High School was raised to 
the standard of a Third Grade High School 
and was so recognized. The teachers then 
were: High School, Geo. A. Schlenker; 
Gramn-iar, H. B. Yoder ; Intermediate, Mar- 
garet Bean ; Secondary, Louise Fenster- 
macher. and Primary, Jeiniie Heilman. 
Salaries, from $70.00 to $50.00. T!ie direc- 
tors : Walt. B. Bieber, G. C. Bordner, A. \\\ 
Fritch, Jno. H. Barto, Dr. X. Z. Dunkelber- 
ger and Geo. Glasser. Mr. Barto died dur- 
ing the term and H. A. Fister was apopint 
ed in his place. 

The following year the grounds were en- 
larged by purchasing five additional lots, 
and in 191 2 Kutztown led the schools of the 
county by purchasing and erecting play- 
ground apparatus. 

Still further improvements were made 
in the year 1912 when the High school was 
raised to a Second Grade school by adding 
one year to its course and employing an ad- 
ditional teacher. And a second move of 
nrogress was inaugurated in 1915, when h 
landscape gardner was engaged to man out 
a plan for beautifying the grounds by 
planting trees and shrubbery. In 1913 and 
from that time on the board also engaged a 
Supervisor of Alusic. The present board 
consists of Geo. Glasser, Geo. .A. Schlenker. 
Ceo. C. Bordner. H. A. Fister, and Dr. H. 
W. Saul. Dr. Saul was anpointed in place 
of O. D. Herman, who resigned. The teach- 
ers who will have charge in fall are : Prin- 



cipal, R. M. Rentschler ; .Assistant Principal, 
H. B. Yoder; Eighth Grade, C. F. Levan ; 
Seventh Grade, Laura I. Keck ; Sixth 
Grade, Helen S. Seidel ; Fifth Grade, Esther 
L. Schmehl ; Fourth Grade, Arline R. 
Smith ; Third Grade, ]\Iabel R. Levan ; Sec- 
ond Grade, Katharine Y. Ruth ; First Grade. 
Myrtle W . Steffy ; and Superintendent of 
Music, Geo. W. Fichthorn. The salaries 
range from $105.00 to $55.00. Term, nine 
months. 

It is worthy of note that the following 
persons, at one time or another teachers, 
were in a subsequent period of their lives 
elected to the position of school director : 
Tohn Humbert, Allen W. Fritch, .Allen S. 
Hottenstein, James H. IMar.x, D. L. Wartz- 
enluft, C. I. G. Christman, G. C. Bordner, 
H. .\. Fister, and Geo. A. Schlenker. 

PRIVATE SCHOOLS 

During the second quarter of the nine- 
teenth century there were a number of pri- 
vate schools opened and conducted, for a 
longer or shorter time, in Kutztown. The 
aspirations of the people of the connnunity 
for higher education were not satisfied by 
what the parochial or the public school 
supplied. Of several of these schools vers 
little is known. 

Hon. William S. Ermentrout is said to 
have conducted a private school in the bor- 
ough, but no further information than this 
has been elicited by diligent inquiry. 

In 1847 Prof. G. Dering Wolff '"opened 
a select school at the solicitation of a num- 
ber of citizens. It was numerously attended 
and served its purpose for a number of 
years."' 

M.ason's "P.\y School" 

For some fifteen years, approximately 
from 1835 to 1850, a certain "Professor" 
(William' ?) Alason conducted a "Pay 
School" in Kutztown. The school occu- 
pied, for the whole or a part of the time, 
an old weatherboarded log building which 
stood on West Main street, on the site now 
occupied by the fine home of Mr. John 
Gonser. The house was the home of Paul 
Ililbert (deceased October, 1876), father- 
in-law to Dr. Charles H. Wanner. The 
lloor is described as being of rough oak 
boards, badly warped. The room was heat- 
ed b\" a heavy cylindrical wood stove. One 
authority avers that the school was not 
conducted continuously in this building, but 
was moved from place to place, first to 



'Montgomerj', "History of Berks County," p. 
865. 



CENTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVN 



97 



James Dietrich's, near the first location, 
and later successively to Samuel Snyder's 
house (where C. W. Snyder has his photo- 
graph gallery), and to Joshua Bieber's store 
building — in each of the last three places one 
year each. Another, still living, authority 
says that during its last year or years it 
was housed in the old "Swan Inn" ( Wan- 
ner-Hoch-Gross house.) These discrepan- 
cies are, apparently, inexplicable at pres- 
ent. 

Mason is described as being " a very dis- 
tinguished looking man." He was accus- 
tomed to take a morning walk along the 
road leading to Lyons. Some country chil- 
dren coming to town one morning met him 
at the Coffeetown quarry as he was on one 
of his pedestrian trips. They were school 



the school, giving instruction in art needle- 
work, so that the introduction of the man- 
ual arts into Kutztown schools is' not so 
recent as has been supposed. Mrs. Helena 
Biehl, (then Helena Kutz) now resident at 
West Main and Schoedler streets, was a 
pupil in Mason's School, taking lessons in 
this art work from Mrs. Mason. The ac- 
companying illustration is from a photo- 
graph of a large and remarkably well exe- 
cuted, especially for a girl of eleven years, 
sampler made under the direction of Mrs. 
Mason. The sampler shows, with evi- 
dent accuracy of detail, the old St. John's 
Union Church and the Franklin Academy 
just across White Oak street. So far as 
known it is the only contemporary picture 
showing these two buildings. It is accur- 




Sampler worked b\ Mrs. Helena Biehl when a pupil in FRA^KI.l^ AcADtiviv 
(Showing the Old Union Church and thi Fr<.i.klin Acadtmy ; 



children attending the parochial ( ?) school. 
"We were afraid of him because he seemed 
so gay and stylish and spoke English, while 
we spoke German only." (Mrs. Wynne). 

He is said to have been an excellent teach- 
er. He had a library' and sold books — pos- 
sibly acted as colnorteur. Mrs. Wynne, 
(then Elizabeth Neff), remembers having 
secured a book of Bible biographies from 
him. 

He married a "lady from Pricetown. 'for 
money' as the gossips said." The marriage 
occurred soon after Mason came to town. 
The pair had two sons, the elder thirteen 
or fourteen years of age when the familv 
left Kutztown. There was also a daugh- 
ter. Mrs. Mason assisted her husband in 



ate even to the number of panes of glass 
in the windows. 

Other pupils in Mason's School were: 
Mrs. Joshua Merkel, (then Matilda Kemp), 
mother of Mrs. John DeTurk; Mrs. Michael 
(then Catharine Ortt) ; her brother, Mr. 
Tames Ortt, a veteran school teacher of 
UoDer Alilford township, Lehi°:h county; 
John D. Deisher ( father of Henry K. Deish- 
er) ; and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. Butz. 

Other than his wife, "Sir. Alason had no 
assistants. The school, especially after the 
opening of Franklin \cademy and because 
of the competition with that institution, was 
not a financial success, and so, about 1850 
Mr. Mason left Kutztown, going to Tus- 
caloosa, Alabama, where he was reported 



98 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



to have secured the principalship of a school 
or schools, at a salar}' of eighteen hundred 
dollars. 

The Franklin Academy 

At the west corner of the intersection 
of Walnut and White Oak streets stands 
a building of peculiar interest to the stu- 
dent of Kutztown histor)' who is, also, in- 
terested in matters educational. It is a 
plain, low, frame, weatherboarded building, 
with windows set with small panes ot glass 
after the fashion of the olden time. At 
present it is the home of Miss Mary Miller. 
Around this humble building cluster num- 
erous associations. For some 15 to 20 years 
it was the home of a school of higher in- 
struction which rendered great service to 
the community and which, though it was at 




The Franki,in Academy 



last comlpelled to close its doors, was the 
indirect predecessor of the splendid Normal 
School which is now the glory of Kutztown 
and all this section. 

Franklin Academy was opened in the 
year 1835. It was established to gratify 
the wish of many of the people resident in 
this vicinage for a more extensive secular 
education than was supplied by the churcli 
school. It was founded by a number of 
citizens who organized themselves into an 
"Acadeni}' Club" association. There were 
eighteen persons in the club. Of these, the 
names of the following were given by ari 
aged friend whose memory failed to recall 
the names of the others: Arnold (a Tew),' 
"Captain" Daniel Bieber, George Bieber, 



John Bieber, Biehl, Jacob Esser, 

(the hatter), David Fister, Graeff, 

Jacob HefTner, "King" David B. Kutz. 
"Butcher" Levan, Henry Neff, and "Squire" 
Wanner. 

Alexander Ramsey, who was teaching in 
the parochial school, was called thence to 
be the first teacher of the new school which, 
during the first year of its existence, was 
conducted in the stone house of Israel Ben- 
ner, the jeweler of the town, on the east 
side of White Oak street, about midway 
between the alley and Walnut street. In 
the academy were taught, besides the rudi- 
mentary branches, "geography, history, 
composition, declamation, book-keeping, 
geometry, surveying, etc." 

Ermentfout remarks unon this school that 
"Thus was drawn in this section the first 
line of separation between secular and re- 
ligious education, and the first attemot made 
to withdraw from the clergy the sole direc- 
tion of the schools." (p. 42). 

The school was so much of a success thai 
its natrons determined to erect a building 
for its occuoancy. This, the wooden build- 
ing referred to, was erected during the year 
i8'=;-^6. Here Ermentrout (p. 42) may 
be followed further. "From an advertise- 
ment in 'The Neutralist,' August 21, 1836, 
by Daniel Bieber, Secretary of the Associa- 
tion, we learn that, in order to furnish bet- 
ter accommodations, the Association had 
just erected a new building which would 
be opened for students on the following 
September i ; that the number of students 
was limited to thirty-three : that no pupil 
would be received for a less time than six 
months ; and that the terms for this period 
were ten dollars. 

"In order to draw the annual appropria- 
tion of four hundred dollars which the 
State ofifered to an academy' that had on 
its roll twenty-five students, the Frankliii 
[Academy] was incorporated in 1838. Its 
first trustees were Daniel B. Kutz. Daniel 
Bieber. Col. John Wanner, David Kutz, Dr. 
C. L. Schlemm, David Deisher, and Henry 
Hefifner. Among its teachers were Alex. 
Ramsey, Rev. Charles Lukens. Messrs. 
Murphv, Wanner, Kohler, Hill, Bitler. Sal- 
ter, and Woodbury." 

Whether these are named in order of suc- 
cession is not known. The name of 

Wolf has been given as that of one of the 
teachers. Whether this was George D. 
Wolfif, mentioned above as having a private 
school or whether Wolff's school there men- 
tioned was really the Franklin Academy, is 
uncertain. 



'He conducted a store where the Shankweiler 
Brothers now do business. 



CEXTEXXTAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVN 



99 



Some details as to several of these teach- 
ers have been gleaned from an elderly friend 
who retains some memory of them. The 
Rev. Charles Lukens was from New Eng- 
land and is characterized as a "grand teach- 
er." Timothy Miirphv was "an Irishman 
with considerable of a brogue," but he was 
"an excellent teacher." He had a wife and 
three children. After teaching several years 
he found the income insufficient for his sup- 
port and quit the school, leaving the town. 

Finally, as interest in the public schools 
increased, the support given to the academ\- 
decreased, it was not possible to retain or 
secure teachers, and the school was about 
to pass out of existence. It had an excellent 
library, we are informed, and this was of 
great value to the students and to the 
community. Among the pupils who, at- 
tending the academy, became prominent in 
the town later in life were: John G. Wink, 
.\ugustus Wink, J. Daniel Wanner, Joel B. 
Wanner, and Jonas Hoch. The latter 
gentleman used to recount to his children 
some amusing incidents relative to a teacher 
whom he had by the name of Bragg. 
Whether the latter was a teacher in the 
academy or in the old parochial school can- 
not now be determined. 

Fairview Seminary 

The Rev. J. Sassaman Herman, pastor 
of the St. John's Reformed Church, was 
greatly interested in the social welfare of 
the community and in education as neces- 
sary for the same. Franklin Academy' hav- 
ing closed its doors and the public school 
failing to provide for more than elementary 
education, Rev. Mr. Herman conceived the 
idea of starting a school of higher educa- 
tion in his larafe house just west of town. 

With this idea in mind. Pastor Herman, 
attending the meeting of the Synod of his 
denomination (probably in the autumn of 
T858 or 1859), met there the Rev. Dr. E. 
V. Gerhart, (from iS^S to 1866, President 
of Franklin and Marshall College, Lancas- 
ter : subseauentlv Professor of Systematic 
and Practical Theology in the Reformed 
Theological Seminary at Mercersburar and 
later at Lancaster). To Doctor Gerhart 
Mr. Herman communicated his purpose 
and succeeded in enlisting his interest and 
co-ODeration in carrying out the scheme. 
Asked to recommend a teacher, Doctor Ger- 
hart suep'ested the name of a vomiq- man, 
Henrv R. Nicks, who. born in the Palatinate 
on the Rhine, had. after coming to Amer- 
ica in i8'i2 and attending school as opnnr- 
tunitv aflforded. g-raduated from FranVlin 
nnd Marshall Colleee and afterward ^-^d 
tanght successfully in the Preparatory De- 



partment of that institution. Doctor Ger- 
hart then took up the matter with Mr. Nicks 
with the result that the latter accepted the 
proposal of Pastor Herman. 

Mr. Nicks came to Kutztown and, on the 
iSth of November, i860, opened the school 
in Herman's house. The name "Fairview 
Seminary" was adopted as the title of the 
new institution, the title being suggested as 
will be narrated in the story of "Fairview 
Cemetery," on another page. From the 
school the house, long the home of Col. T. 
D. Fister, received its well known designa- 
tion of "Fairview Mansion." With Mr. 
Nicks were associated, as assistant teach- 
ers, John Humbert, Esq. and Harry Weand. 

Five pupils reported the first day. One 




Rev. E. V. Gerhart, D. D. 

of these was Nathan C. Schaefifer, now the 
illustrious Superintendent of Public Instruc 
tion of the State of Pennsylvania. Thi, 
second day a sixth pupil was enrolled, and 
by the end of the week nine pupils were in 
attendance. The school grew slowly but 
surely, and a firm foundation was laid for 
the institutions that succeeded this one. 
Early in 1863 Pastor Herman sold the prop- 
erty to Egidius Butz. Mr. Nicks was con. 
seauently obliged to vacate the house and 
"Fairview Seminary," after an existence 
of three years, closed its doors. 

Kutztown Semin.vry 

The school was not, however, really 
c'osed, when Professor Nicks left "Fair- 
view Mansion." Possibly he intended giv- 
ing up the work in Kutztown, but again 



lOO 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



credit must be given to Doctor Gerhart for 
encouraging the young teacher. It is on 
record that letters passed between the two 
during this period. As a result of the en- 
couragement thus received Professor Nicks 
re-opened his school in August, 1863, un- 
der the name of "Kutztown Seminar)',"' in 
a room on the upper floor of the old brick 
public school house (now the Leibovitz shirt 
factory), in the room toward Normal ave- 
nue. Here until July, 1864, the school was 
conducted with renewed vigor and, appar- 
ently, gratifying success. A. S. Hottenstein. 
who was, later, the first superintendent of 
the Model School of the Keystone State 
Normal, served as assistant to Professor 
Nicks during the spring of 1864. Among 
the pupils attending the Kutztown Semin- 
ary were: Nathan C. SchaefTer, Walter 
B. Bieber, Elton S. Bieber, Aaron Mander- 
bach, Cyrus Wanner, Zach. T. Hoch, and 
Zach. T. Miller. 

Maxatawny Seminary 

When, in the spring of 1863, it became 
apparent that the Herman house would have 
to be vacated, Mr. Nicks was much dis- 
couraged, and wrote to Doctor Gerhart ask- 
ing help in securing another position. Doc- 
tor Gerhart replied urging him to keep on 
at Kutztown, promising himself to visit 
the people and to help in raising money for 
a new building. This letter of Doctor Ger- 
hart was probably written on Saturday, 
April 25, 1863, as is inferred from a record 
in Doctor Gerhart's diary. Then, on Fri- 
day, May I, he came to Kutztown, spend- 
ing 'the evening with Herman and Nicks, 
on Saturday visiting the people of the com- 
munity for the purpose of interesting them 
in the project of putting Mr. Nicks' school 
on a permanent basis. But, in the interests 
of historical accurac)' in a matter so im- 
portant as this which led within a year or 
two to the founding of the Normal School, 
it is well to put on record here the original 
story as it is found in Dr. Gerhart's diary, 
recently consulted for this puroose by the 
Rev. Dr. George W. Richards, Professor of 
Church History in the Seminary at Lan- 
caster. 

Extract From Diary of Dr. E. V. 
Gerhart 

' "[Monday], May 4th, [1863]. On Fri- 
day [May i] go to Kutztown, where I 
spend Saturday and Sunday. — Friday Eng^ 
vis- Rev. Herman & the "School." Satur- 
day [May 2] read and write in A. M. P. 
M. vis' a no" of families in county & town, 
conferring with them in regard to perm- 



anent establishment of Mr. Nicks vSchool. 
Wrote to Eliza & Geo. Noll. 

"Sunday [May 3] P^ Isa. 53 : 6 at 
Fleetwood for Rev. Gromly'', Lutheran, and 
assist in adm" H. Com'. Dine & return to 
Kutztown and P"* at 21/0 P. M. on 2 Cor. 
13:3. Sup with Dr. Wanner. 

"Monday [May 4], confer with ]\Ir. 
Nicks, vis- Rev. Herman. Draw up papers 
for joint Stock Co. Return home by 6." 

These first days of j\Iay were pregnant 
with results for this community. In a re- 
cent letter from Dr. N. C. Schaeiifer, this 
reminiscence of Doctor Gerhart's visit is 
given : 

"I remember the visit. He and Mr. Nicks 
visited by father's home. | David Schaef- 
fer's in Maxatawny, some distance east of 
Kutztown]. I opened the gate for them. 
We were in the barn threshing grain. I 
wore a black hat that resembled the head 
gear of an archbishop. But such things 
did not bother me in my boyhood. 

"The first subscription, of $500, was made 
by Jacob Sunday, the grandfather of Pierce 
[and Jacob] Kemp. This encouraged Mr. 
Nicks so much that he continued to raise 
the money after Doctor Gerhart's return to 
Lancaster." 

From time to time, as records in Doctor 
Gerhart's diary show, Nicks received let- 
ters from his Lancaster friend. At last ht. 
succeeded in raising $5,700 dollars, in hund- 
red dollar shares. Of these he took four 
himself. Five acres of land, at $275.00 per 
acre, were purchased and on this ground 
was erected a building, fifty feet by forty, 
which later became the eastern wing of the 
Kevstone State Normal School. Into this 
building, to which was given the name of 
"Maxatawny Seminary," the school was 
moved in September, 1864. 

On the building, planned to cost some- 
what less, $6,500 was expended. Ermen- 
trout says that Doctor Gerhart mapped out 
the plan of the building. The school pros- 
pered. Professor Nicks had as his chief 
assistant. Professor Samuel Transeau, a 
graduate of FrankHn and Marshall Col- 
lege, later Citv Superintendent of the Public 
Schools of Williamsport, Pa. In the spring 
of 1865, Prof. John S. Ermentrout, then 
Superintendent of the Public Schools of 

1 Evening. 

=Vi.sit. 

•' Numljer. 

■•Preach. 

"Rev. B. E. Kramlich. 

"Administering. 

"Holy Communion. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



lOI 



Berks Co., taught a class of young people 
intent on becoming teachers. About that 
time Superintendent Ermentrout conceived 
the idea of converting the school into the 
Normal School of the Third District, if 
State recognition could be secured. The 
project had been broached before but until 
Professor Nicks had made a success of his 
school there was little likelihood of the 
realization of the idea. Professor Nicks 
allowed himself to agree to the scheme, for 
scheme it now seems to have been, a scheme 
which, when the new school was recognized 
by the State, depr^ived him of the expectert 
fruits of his labors, since Mr. Ermentrout 
succeeded in winning the principalship of 
the Normal School while Mr. Nicks was 
accorded a subordinate position. 

That this was an ill requital of the lat- 
ter's efforts is evidenced by papers yet ex- 
tant which prove conclusively that both con- 
tributors to the erection of the building 
and Mr. Nicks himself expected him to be- 
come the owner. Nicks held an option on 
the property, by the terms of the original 
subscription which read : 

"The said share-holders, each and every one 
of them, agree to transfer their stocks or any 
of them to the said H. R. Nicks at their par 
value, at any time he, the said H. R. Nicks, re- 
quests them or any of them to do so, and as soon 
as the said H. R. Nicks shall have purchased all 
the stocks or shares from the shareholders, the 
title of the said premises shall be made to him, 
the said H. R. Nicks, by good and lawful deed 
of conveyance, and he. the said H. R. Nicks, shall 
become the sole pronrietor and owner of the said 
premises and establishment." 

During the year of the existence of A'lax- 



atawny Seminary proper, and the year in 
which, as the proposed Keystone State Nor- 
mal School it waited for recognition, in- 
deed for some time thereafter, Professoi 
Nicks paid interest, at six per cent., on the 
stocks that he did not personally own. As 
an instance, on April 6th, 1866, he was 
given a receipt for $28 "interest on stocks 
of Maxatawny Seminary for August ist, 
1865, to April 1st, 1866," signed by Jacob 
Sunday, the first contributor. 

But the control of the school was taken 
from him, to his own great disappointment 
and to the great indignation of some of his 
ardent friends and supporters. 

But, by and by, the controversy stibsided, 
Nicks took a stibordinate place, gave up, 
unwillingly, no doubt, his claims, worked 
awhile in the new Normal, and finally left 
to become President of Palatinate College, 
Myerstown. While there he became a 
licensed clergyman of the Reformed Church. 

Whatever the merits of the claims of the 
parties to the controversy that attended the 
founding of the Normal School, and it now 
seems certain that Professor Nicks was not 
fairly treated, it is yet true that, without 
doubt, his loss was the gain of the com- 
munity in the years from then to now, for 
it is hardly probable that, had he fully suc- 
ceeded in his plans, there would be today 
the magnificent school that crowning Nor- 
mal Hill, celebrates its semi-centennial this 
year. Certainly, though he did not intend 
it to be so, Prof. H. R. Nicks must be ac- 
corded the honor of being the most active 
among the founders of the. Keystone State 
Normal School, the story of which imme- 
diatelv follows. 




Old (First) Buildings of Keystone State Norm,\l School 



102 



CENTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



KEYSTONE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL 



The histon- of the Keystone State Nor- 
mal School is vitally connected with that 
of the private schools which preceded it, a 
history told in some detail in the last pre- 
ceding pages. A few additional details are 
here added, with perhaps a few repetitions. 
Prof. H. R. Nicks was the first and princi- 
pal teacher of Fairview Seminary. He op- 
ened the school with five pupils : Erastus 
Bast, O. C. Herman, Jefferson C. Hoch, 
Nathan C. Schaeffer (later for sixteen years 
principal of the Keystone State Normal 
School and, since 1893, Superintendent of 
Public Instruction of the State of P'ennsyl- 
vania), and Miss Clara Wanner. "^ 

OLD (First) buildings of keystonjj statf, 

NORMAL 

The school prospered under Professor 
Nicks; by April, i6bi, he had fort3r-one 
pupils on the roll and in the spring of 1863 
there were eighty-five. In the fall of 1863, 
as has been narrated, the school was moved 
to Kutztown and conducted, in a room of 
the public school, under the name of Kutz- 
town Academy. The school continued to 
prosper. During 1863 and 1864, through 
the influence of Professor Nicks, five acres 
of land were purchased, where part of the 
Normal buildings now stand, and on that 
tract was begun the erection of a larger 
brick building. Into this structure, which 
cost $6,500 and which, occupying part of 
the site of the present Boys' Dormitories, 
became later the northeastern wing of the 
Keystone State Normal School, in the fall 
of 1864, Kutztown Academy was moved 
and there conducted under the new name of 
Maxatawny Seminary. Professor Nicks 
continued as principal, associated with him- 
self, in the fall of 1865, the Rev. Samuel 
Transeau, as assistant, who remained with 
the school till 1867, removing in 1873 to 
Williamsport, where for a number of years 
he servecl as City Superintendent of Public 
Schools. 

As early as 1857 the location of the State 
Normal School of the third district, com- 
posed of the counties of Berks, Lehigh, and 
Schuylkill, was discussed. In that year, 
in an address delivered at Reading, the 



Hon. H. H. Schwartz, then Superintendent 
ot Schools of Lehigh County, advocated 
the claims of ivutztown as the most suitable 
sue tor the proposed institution. In 1862 
the Rev. B. E. Kramlich suggested that 
Professor Nicks' "±'airview Seminary" be 
converted into a State Normal. Ihe Rev. 
John S. Ermentrout, Superintendent of the 
Berks County Public Schools, favored Ham- 
burg as a better location. Professor Nicks, 
however, was the individual who worked 
hardest and did most, accomplishing what 
others merely talked about. In 1863 he 
entered into correspondence with the Hon. 
Thomas H. Burrowes, State Superintend- 
ent, in order to ascertain what steps were to 
be taken to secure recognition of the school 
as a State Normal School. In the spring 
of 1865 a number of public school teachers 
were gathered into ^Maxatawny Seminary 
and there given formal pedagogical instruc- 
tion by County Superintendent Ermentrout. 
When the success of Maxatawny Seminary 
had been assured. Professor Nicks proceed- 
ed to interest the community in the greater 
project. As the direct result of his ad- 
vocacy, of the measure and his own sacrifice 
of time and money an organization was ef- 
fected in the summer of 1865 and funds 
were speedily subscribed for the erection 
of two additional buildings, a central build- 
ing and a wing on the northwest, similar 
to the Maxatawny Seminary building which, 
after the erection of the two new edifices 
formed the northeast wing of the completed 
structure, the whole representing a frontage 
of 240 feet, "with boarding accommodations 
for 300 and school accommodations for 400 
students." The cornerstone of this struc- 
ture was laid September 17, 1865. by Sup- 
erintendent Ermentrout. In the corner- 
stone "were deposited, among other things, 
the Bible and the Apostles' Creed."' 

Addresses on this occasion were delivered 
by Hon. J. Lawrence Getz, William Rosen- 
thal, Esq., Daniel Eermentrout, Esq., Llew- 
ellyn Wanner, Esq., and Prof. Albert N. 
Raub. The building, erected by Mejsrs. 
Garst and Mast, of the city of Reading, 
was completed within a year at a cost of 
about $40,000.- 

To this result, bv his indefatigable labors. 



^After laboring at the above mentioned place 
[Kutztown] a little more than three years, the 
number of students has been increased from five 
to ninety. — From extract from a letter written by 
H. R. Xicks to Hon. Thos. H. Burrowes, copied 
in a note book by Mr, X'icks, (about 1863'). 



iR. S. N. S. Catalog, 1866-1867, p. 20. 

=The catalog for 1866-67 says that "the cost 
of the buildings and grounds is about $50,000." 
This however includes the expenditure for Maxa- 
tawnv Seminarv. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



103 



Professor Nicks contributed very material- 
ly. The people of the community, notably 
the Hottensteins, the Biebers, Dr. Charles 
A. Gerasch, Solomon Christ, and David 
Schaeffer, by liberal contributions, made the 
undertaking" a success. For the Normal 
were subscribed $18,300, which with the 
$6,500 given for the seminary previously, 
made a total of $14,800.'^ 

The first board of trustees was com- 
posed of the following gentlemen : Henry 
Bushong, Egidius Butz, Daniel Dietrich, - 
Rev. J. S. Ermentrout, David Fister, John 
H. Fogel, Jonas Hoch, Edward Hottenstein, 
M. D., J. Clancy Jones, Rev. B. E. Kram- 
lich, Diller Luther, M. D., Jonas Miller. 
Ullrich^ Miller, Rev. H. R. Nicks, H. H. 
Schwartz, Esq., David Shafer,^ Adam Stein, 
Lesher Trexler, M. D., and J. D. Wanner, 
Esq. Lewis K. Hottenstein was president 
of the board of trustees ; David H. Hotten- 
stein its secretary. Lesher Trexler, M. D., 
was president of the board of stockholders 
and Jonas Hoch secretary. Charles Ger- 
asch, M. D., was treasurer of the new 
school. 

At a meeting of the board of trustees 
held August 4, 1866, formal application was 
made to the Hon. Charles R. Coburn, 
State Superintendent of Common Schools, 
for recognition of the school as the State 
Normal School for the Third District, com- 
prising the counties of Berks, Lehigh, and 
Schuylkill. On Thursday, September 13, 
1866, W. Worthington, George Landon, S. 
Elliot, Thaddeus Banks, J. S. Ermentrout, 
(as Superintendent of Berks County), Jesse 
Newlin, (Superintendent of Schuylkill), 
and E. J. Young, ( Superintendent of Le- 
high), inspectors appointed by the State 
Superintendent, inspected the school and 
recommended its recognition, and on Sep- 
tember 15th, two days later, Superintendent 
Coburn issued a proclamation recognizing 
the school by the name of the Kevstone 
State Normal School, the corporate title 
borne by it to the present. 

The "Officers of Instruction" as given 
by the first catalog were: "Rev. J. S. 
Ermentrout, A. M.," Principal, and Profes- 
sor of Mental and Moral Science, and of 
Theory and Practice of Teaching; Rev. H. 
R. Nicks, A. M., Associate Principal, and 
Professor of Mathematics and Phvsics ; Al- 
bert N. Raub, A. M., Professor of English 
Language and Literature, and of Vocal 
Alusic ; Rev. Samuel Transeau, A. M., Pro- 
fessor of Ancient Languages and History ; 



Edward T. Burgan, M. E., Superintendent 
of the Model School, and Professor of Pen- 
manship and Book Keeping; Rev. G. F. 
Spieker, Professor of German Language 
and Literature; Lesher Trexler, M. D., Lec- 
turer on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hy- 
giene ; Miss Julia E. Buliard, M. L., Teach- 
er of Instrumental Music, French, f^ainting, 
and Drawing; Miss Mary Morrison, Teach- 
er of Reading and Geography; 

(not filled), "Teacher of Elocution; Peter 
S. Umbenhauer, Pupil Assistant." The 
first catalog, 1866-68, contains the names of 
318 pupils, 263 of them male, 55 female. 

The Rev. John S. Ermentrout served as 
principal until 1871 when he was succeeded 
by the Rev. A. R. Horne,^ A. M. After 
an absence from the school for three years. 
Professor Ermentrout returned in 1874 and 
served as Professor of Mental Science and 
English Literature (or "Belles Letters" as 
it was called at first) until 1881. In 1877 
Dr. A. R. Home was succeeded in the prin- 
cipalship by the Rev. Nathan C. Schaeffer, 
A. M., who, after winning unusual distinc- 
tion and receiving honorary degrees from 
eminent institutions of learning, severed his 
connection with the school to become State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the 
spring of 1893. The Rev. George B. 
Hancher, Ph. D., became principal in 1893 
and served tiil 1899; since that time to the 
present the Rev. A. C. Rothermel, A. M., 
Pd. D., Litt. D., has been the efficient head 
of the institution. 

THg HOUSING OF THE SCHOOL 

The growth of the school has been steady 
and substantial. For more than twentv- 
five years past, building operations have 
been almost continuous. The earlier struc- 
tures were soon outgrown and larger edi- 



'The Catalog sums it up as $24,600. evidentiv 
a typographical error. 
2 So spelled in the first two catalogs. 



^ After the retirement of Professor Ermentrout, 
Prof Nicks was elected principal of the Normal 
School. He was then serving as President of 
Palatinate College and declined to accept the 
position thus tendered to him as head of the 
school which he had founded. 

The Western Union Telegraph Ccmpany 
Dated Kutztown via Topton, July ist, 1871. 
Received at Myerstown, Pa. 
To Professor Nicks, 

Principal Palatinate College. 
The Trustees of Keystone State Normal School 
have today unanimously elected you Principal 
thereof. 

PETER W. FISHER. 
9.15 A. M. 

This telegram has just been received at the 
office in the 

Myerstown Post Office. 
Copy 



I04 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



105 



fices, one b}' one, have taken their place 
until now, with the exception of a single 
three-storied brick building, known as "The 
Steward's Building," overshadowed by mas- 
sive piles around it, not one of the first 
erections remains. In 1880 the "Ladies' 
Building" or Girls' Dormitory was put up; 
in 1887 the "Chapel Building" was erected; 
in 1 89 1 the extensive northeast wing or 
"Boys' Dormitory" followed; in 1893 the 
old "Main Building" was demolished to 
give place to the great six-story "Center 
Building," costing $75,000^ ; in 1896 the 
necessities of the school produced a fine 
kitchen and laundry with a superb equip- 
ment; in 1898 a powerful electric light plant 



designed, and erected at a cost of $50,000, 
was opened for use ; while the early months 
of 1909 witnessed the completion of a fine 
two-story brick hospital or infirmary, for the 
isolation and treatment of pupils who may 
fall ill while at school, a provsion for which 
it is hoped there may be little and infre- 
quent need. Beside this there is a great 
boiler house, which has been enlarged from 
time to time in order to furnish steam heat 
to recitation rooms and dormitories and 
power to run the machinery of the hydraul- 
ic passenger elevator ; the equipment of the 
laundry and the electric dynamos ; operating 
the pumping engine at the artesian well and 
water tower, the electric projecting lanterns 




made coal-oil illumination an incident of 
history ; in 1900 the foundations were laid 
for a new "Model School Building" with 
an annex containing physical, chemical, and 
biological laboratories, and an ample audi- 
torium (the two costing $100,000) ; in 190S 
a splendidly equipped gymnasium, ornately 



'The money for this Center Building was pro 
vided largely b\' the State, through an appropria- 
tion secured by the kindly activity and potent 
influence of Hon. C. W. Kutz, of Lyons Station, 
a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, whose 
interest in the movement was aroused by Dr. N. 
C. Schaeffer. 



of class rooms and auditoriums, and the 
apparatus of the laboratories and laundry. 

The New Library 

There has just been completed a magnifi- 
cent library building. It stands on the 
north campus, directly across the Easton 
Road from the Main or Center Building of 
the Normal, some sixty feet from the high ■ 
way. It was erected at a cost of one hund- 
red and ten thousand dollars ($110,000). 
Its frontage is 82 feet and the depth, to the 
rear of the annex containing the book 



io6 



CEXTEXXIAL illSTORV OF KUTZTOVVN 



stacks, 88 feet. It is fifty feet in height 
to the top of the dome. It is of tire-proof 
construction throughout, with reinforced 
concrete floors and stairways of steel with 
marble treads. There are no stoves in the 
building, which is heated by the vacuum 
system operated by a heating plant in the 
basement, cut off from the rest of the build- 
ing by self-operating iire doors. 

The walls of the main building are of 
Mount Airy, N. C, granite— of the book 
stack annex, of white brick. The library 
is approached by a cement and brick check- 
ered pavement, leading from the sidewalk 
and extending the full width of the noble 
portico. In the center of this pavement is 
a circle in which will be erected shortly a 
large fountain, the gift of one of the classes. 
The portico, flanked by massive and majestic 
Grecian columns of granite bears on its en- 
tablature the word LIBRARY, above which 
is the monogram of the school. Through 
this portico one may pass into the simply 
but beautifully ornate arched corridor and 
thence to the superb rotunda, or central 
hall. The walls of this, as of the corridor 
are lined with polished marble. The floor 
is of tesselated marble, in the center of 
which is a monogram of the school, a 
wreathed keystone with the entwined letters 
S. N. S. On the wall facing the entrance 
is a beautiful circular clock with marble 
case, the gift of the class of 1914. The 
room, except for an encircling gallery, 
reaches to the base of the dome. This 
forms the ceiling which is of metal and 
rich stained glass. In the spandrels are 
beautiful allegorical paintings. In the sec- 
tional glass of the ceiling are the signs of 
the zodiac while the circular center lets mel- 
lowed light pass through a stained glass 
design representing Phoebus Apollo driving 
the chariot of the sun. From the rotunda 
on the first floor doors admit to a large 
reference room, a reading room, trustees' 
room, librarian's room, catalog room, retir- 
ing room, and to one floor of the book 
stack annex. 

From this floor the grand twin stairwav-- 
of metal and marble lead to the rotunda 
gallery and the second floor. On this floor 
are a study room, the art gallery, and three 
museum rooms. Access to the book stacks 
may also be had on this floor. The furni- 
ture of all these rooms is massive, of the 
latest design, and admirably adapted to 
library purposes. 

The basement contains, besides the boiler 
room and the first floor of the book stack, 
toilet rooms, and two museum rooms. In 
the basement is installed an electrically op- 
crated vacuum cleaner bv which the entire 



building may be kept free from dust and 
dirt, ihe stack rooms are equipped with 
steel cases having adjustable shelving. The 
floors between the stories of the stack annex 
are of heavy clouded glass, providing all 
desirable illumination. The floors are con- 
nected by metal stairways. 

Ihe wood work throughout is of beau- 
tifully finished quartered oak. The walls 
and ceilings are appropriately decorated. 
The building is well lighted by day through 
ample windows over each of which, on the 
outside, is carved the name of some notable 
author, British or American. The name of 
Shakespeare is cut upon the granite lintel 
of the entrance doorway. For illmuina- 
tion by night electric fixtures of choice de- 
sign and rich quality have been installed 
throughout. High above all rises a grace- 
ful dome, surmounted by a finial in form of 
a crown, the whole covered with copper, 
reflecting the beams of the rising or declin- 
ing sun. 

Ground was broken for the erection of 
the Librar}' in March, 1913. Except for 
some minor touches in the wa}- of decora- 
tion, the structure was completed in the fall 
of 1914. 

In the corridor is a large bronze tablet 
giving the names of the building committee, 
officials of the Normal School, architects, 
builders, and the like. The architects were 
Ruhe and Lange, of Allentown. The erec- 
tors of the building were the Ochs Con- 
structing Company, of the same city. The 
frescoing and other decorations are the de- 
sign and work of the Chapman Decorating 
Company, of Philadelphia. 

It is hoped that this crowning glory of 
the buildings on Normal Hill will be open 
for occupancy, under the direction of a 
trained librarian, at the beginning of the 
next term of school. 

UNIQUE ARRANGEMENT OE BUIEDINGS 

The buildings are in some respects unique 
as being, with the exception of boiler house, 
electric plant, gymnasium, infirmary, stew- 
ard's house, and the new library, practically 
under one roof, being connected by covered 
bridges, supported on beams of steel. The 
dormitories and recitation halls are large 
and abundantly lighted. The equipment of 
the school in the way of scientific apparatus 
is select and complete and each year large 
expenditures are made for the physical, 
chemical, biological, and psychological lab- 
oratories, as well as for the other depart- 
ments of the institution, by which means 
the educational facilities afforded by the 
school are kept abreast of the demands of 
the times. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



107 



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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 




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CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



109 



LIBRARIES AND LITERARY SOCIfiTlIiS 

There are three principal Hbraries, each 
containing several thousand volumes. One 
is the general reference library, the other 
two are the property of the two literary 
societies maintained by the students. These 
two societies are the Philomathean Literary 
Society, organized early in the year 1865. 
and the Keystone Literary Society, origin- 
ally named the Kalliomathean Society, 
which, in September of the same year, was 
organized by students dismissed, for the 



hall for meets of the classes in general 
physical exercises, an elevated running gal- 
lery, bowling alleys, a commodious bathing 
and swimming pool, shower baths, lockers, 
offices, and all necessary apparatus. There 
are athletic grounds both north and south 
of the Normal School Buildings. On the 
north campus are the tennis courts, on the 
southeast campus are the baseball and ath- 
letic fields, on the southwest is the new 
hockey field for the girls, while set about 
the campus are swings, see-saws, and other 
apparatus for rest or play. 




Interior of Gym.-^asium— Basket Ball Practice 



purpose of starting a rival society, by the 
elder organization. Besides these collec- 
tions of books, which will be removed short- 
ly to the new library building on the north 
campus, departmental or working libraries, 
housed in the various recitation rooms, are 
maintained by several of the departments 
of the school. All of these collections are 
generously augmented from time to time. 

ATHLETICS 

The gymnasium, of which mention has 
been made, stately in appearance and gen- 
erous in proportions, is admirably adapted 
to its purpose. It contains a large assembly 



COURSE OE STUDY 

The course of study is that prescribed 
by the State of Pennsylvania, but in some 
matters this school leads its compeers. At 
the instigation of Dr. Nathan C. Schaefifer, 
who was principal at the time and had been 
a member of the Pennsylvania Industrial 
Commission, a manual training department, 
directed by Dr. W. W. Deatrick, was es- 
tablished, the first in Pennsylvania Normal 
Schools, in 1891. Instruction in this de- 
partment is given on pedagogic lines but, 
-nevertheless, the course is eminently prac- 
tical, having obtained marked recognition 
in the reports of the L^nited States Com- 



no 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



missioner of Education. Specimens of 
work done in accordance witli this course, 
exhibited with other work of the school, 
won medals and diplomas at two great 
world's fairs. Among other exercises in 
this department may be mentioned construc- 
tion of apparatus, clay-modeling, and me- 
chanical drawing. The fine arts are not 
neglected ; drawing, crayoning, and paint- 
ing in water and oils and on china, are thor- 
oughly taught. The present capable in- 
structor in drawing, painting, and the cer- 
amic arts is Prof. Harrv W. Sharadin, an 



teaching of domestic science were fitted out 
and during the past year the girls of the 
senior class have received instruction in 
all phases of culinary art. ]\Iiss Lillian I. 
Bull, B. I., is the enthusiastic and extremely 
capable and successful instructor in this new 
branch of study. 

ENVIRONMENT 

The environment of the school is superbly 
excellent. On all sides the beautiful East 
Penn V^allev stretches awav to the moun- 




Kt.RCTRIC I'UNT -DYN.JiMO ROOiM 



alumnus of the Normal and a student in 
the great galleries of this country and of 
Europe. The splendid mural painting, of 
mammoth prooortions, occupying the wall 
recess back of the chapel platform and en- 
titled "Education," the gift of a recent 
class to their alma mater, is the product of 
his imaginative mind and facile brush. 

DOVrESTIC SCTEVCE 

For some years past elementary sewing, 
with optional art needle work, has been 
taught to the girls. In the summer of 1914 
elaborately equipped laboratories for the 



tains or the rivers. Elevated 510 feet abovt 
sea level, on almost the apex of one of the 
mid-valley watersheds, its drainage is 
ample. Sweet country airs sweep its cam- 
pus. The water supply, from its own 
artesian well, is pure. Within the last few 
years landscape gardening has been begun, 
which, when extended to the entire cam- 
pus will make the setting of the buildings 
unexcelled in all the country for beauty and 
for healthsomeness. 

THE FACULTY 

But brains are better than bricks and the 



CeXTliXXIAI, HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



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CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



mainsta_v of a great school must ever be the 
excellence of its teaching force. In this 
particular the Keystone State Normal 
School has been especially fortunate ; it has 
always had forceful instructors, and never 



The school is crowded with pupils to the 
point of taxing the capacity of the present 
ample buildings. The last catalog contained 
the names of 710 pupils. The list of alumni 
of the institution now totals 3440 names. 




more of them than now. The roster of 
teachers in the last catalog contains twenty- 
nine items ; and among these a considerable 
I3ro]5ortion is of names of college and uni- 
versity trained instructors. In this way tht 
desired breadth and accuracy in instruction 
is secured. 



among which are those of men and women 
prominent in every sphere of wholesome 
and serviceable human activity. 

THE I'RfiSENT MANAGEMENT 

The present roster of trustees, officials, 
and faculty of the school is as follows : 



CEXTEKNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 113 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 

Trustees Representing the State 
1913—1016 

Lewis B. Butz Kutztown, Pa. 

James Sch aeffer Kutztown, Pa. 

Charles W. Miller ■. Kutztown, Pa. 

1914— 1917 

Hon. Georoe W. Wagner Reading, Pa. 

Eli M. Rapp Reading, Pa. 

John R. Gonser Kutztown, Pa. 

191S— 1918 

Ulrich J. Miller Kutztown, Pa. 

William F. Stimmel ^ ..Kutztown, Pa. 

Hon. Richard H. Koch Pottsville, Pa. 

Trustees Representing the Stockholders 

1913— 1916 

C. J. DiLCHER Allentown, Pa. 

Alvin E. Rupp Allentown, Pa. 

Livingston Seltzer Pottsville, Pa. 

1914— 1917 

T. Daniel Sharadin Kutztown, Pa. 

Aaron B. Stein Reading, Pa. 

Lewis A. Stein Kutztown, Pa. 

191S— 1918 

Charles D. Herman Kutztown, Pa. 

Charles A. Hottenstein, M. D .- Kutztown, Pa. 

W. KerpEr Stevens, Esq Reading, Pa. 



OFFICERS 

Eli M. Rapp President of Board of Trustees 

Charles W. Miller Secretary of Board of Trustees 

James SchaeffEr President of Board of Stockholders 

John R. GonsEr Secretary of Board of Stockholders 

Prof. J. J. Hottenstein Treasurer 

Charles W. Miller Steward 



STANDING COMMITTEES 

Instruction and Discipline. — Charles W. Miller, Hon. Richard H. Koch, U. 
J. Miller, Hon. George W. Wagner, Prof. Livingston Seltzer, J. D. Sharadin, Prof. 
Alvin E. Rupp, Prof. Eli. M. Rapp, cx-officio. 

Library and Apparatus. — Prof. Alvin E. Rupp, Hon. Richard H. Koch, Prof. 
Livingston Seltzer, C. J. Dilcher, Hon. George W. Wagner. 

Finance. — John R. Gonser, Aaron B. Stein, W. Kerper Stevens, Esq., Prof. 
Eli M. Rapp, Charles D'. Herman, Charles A. Hottenstein, M. D. 

Accounts. — Lewis A. Stein, W. Kerper Stevens, Esq., Charles D. Herman, 
J. D. Sharadin, William F. Stimmel. 

Household.— J. D. Sharadin, James Schaeffer, U. J. Miller, Lewis B. Butz, 
Charles A. Hottenstein, M. D. 

Grounds and Buildings.— U. J. Miller, Lewis B. Butz, C. J. Dilchcr, Charles 
D. Herman, John R. Gonser, Prof. Alvin E. Rupp. 

Insurance. — Lewis A. Stein, William F. Stimmel, Aaron B. Stein. 

Fuel.— William F. Stimmel, James Schaeffer, Charles W. Miller. 



114 



CEXTENXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



THE TRUSTEES 






AARON B. STEIN 



F.LI M. EAPP 



DR. C. A. HOTTEXSTEIN 






LEWIS A. STEIN 



JAMES SCHAEFFER 



JOHN R. GONSER 






WILLIAM F. STIMMEL CHARLES W. MILLER 



I'LRICH J. MILLER 



CEXTENXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



115 



THE TRUSTEES 






CHARLES D. HERMAN LIVINGSTON SELTZER 



ALVIN E. RUPP 






C. J. DILCHER W. KERPER STEVENS ESQ. HON. RICHARD H. KOCH 






LEWIS B. BUTZ HON. GEORGE W. W.VGNER J. DANIEL SHARADIN 



ii6 CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



BOARD OF IXSTRUCTIOX 

Officers 

A. C. RoTHERMELj A. M., Pd. D., LiTT. D Principal 

Rev. Charles C. Boyer, A. M., Ph. D Vice-Principal and Librarian 

C. L. Cruder, A. M Secretary 

Tno. J. HoTTENSTEiN, M. E Bookkeeper 

Miss Clara A. Myers, M. E Preceptress 

H. T. Stein, A. M., LiTT. D., Ph. D. , N. D Secretary to the Principal 

Miss Clara A. Myers, M. E Assistant Librarian 

Instructors 

A. C. RoTHERMEL, A. M., Pd. D., Litt. D Philosophy of Education 

Pev. Charles C. Boyer, A. M., Ph. D Pedagogy 

Rev. W. W. Deatrick, A. M., Sc. D Psychology and Higher English 

David S. Keck, A. M English Grammar and History 

G. C. BoRDNER, A. M Higher Mathematics 

Rev. George Smith Kressley, A. M., Litt. D Latin, Greek and German 

C. L. GrubER, M. E., a. M Arithmetic and Civics 

Frj\nk S. KrEbs, M. E Superintendent of Model School 

James S. Grim, A. M., Ph. D Biology and Geology 

Jno. J. HottEnstein, M. E Penmanship 

]\Tiss ClaSa a. Myers, M. E Geography 

Miss Alma D. Stier, B. L, D. I Reading and Elocution 

H. W. Sharadin Director of Art Department, and Painting 

Miss Ella E. Kramlich Piano 

H. T. Stein, A. M., Litt. D., Ph. D., N. D. . Commercial Science and School Law 

Miss Mabel E. Brown Professional Nurse 

J^TISS Helen A. Beam, M. E EngHsh 

W. S. Haldeman, B. S Chemistry 

A. M. Dietrich, B. S., M. S Physics 

Miss A. Irene Kramer Kindergarten 

Miss Joan Easley Superintendent of Music Department 

Miss Lillian I. Bull, B. I Physical Culture and Sewing 

Bert M. Bohler Physical Culture 

Miss Laura M. Schultz Vocal Music and Voice Culture 

B. W. Beck, Ph. B Latin and French 

Miss May E. Hacenbach Critic Teacher in Model School 

Miss Mary E. Brooks Training Teacher in Model School 

George L. Swank, A. B Assistant in Latin and Greek 

Frederick A. Sterner, B. Pd Assistant in Latin 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



117 



THE CEMETERIES 



Fairview Cemetery 

Fairview Cemeten' received its name 
from a suggestion made in i860 b.y the 
late Peter D. Wanner, Esq. to the late 
Rev. J. Sassaman Herman, then resident 
in the "Fairview Mansion," now the prop- 
erty of the Rev. Hiram F. Seneker, long 
the' home of the late Col. Thomas D. Fister. 
According to Mr. Wanner, while he and 
Mr. Herman were discussing Mr. Wan- 
ner's future, the establishing of a school 
in Mr. Herman's home, and the opening of 
a cemetery on part of the latter's estate, 
they stood one evening by the roadside. 
Facing the west, they had a view of a 
most glorious sunset. There had been 
some inquiry as to the name to be given 
to school and cemetery. Looking over the 
landscape to the west, Air. Wanner said : 
"How would Fairview do for a name?" 
The suggestion met a ready response, 
"Well, Peter, I guess we can do no better." 
The school was established as "Fairview 
Seminary," the cemetery was opened as 
"Fairview Cemetery," and the house once 
occupied by the school remains "Fairview 
Mansion" to the present day. 

The consecratory services were held 
June 15 and 16, 1861. On the first day, 
Saturday, the Rev. Dr. Christian Rudolph 
Kessler, of Allentown, and the Rev. Gott- 
lieb F. I. Yeager, of Greenwich, preached. 
On Sunday, i6th, the Rev. Joseph S. Dubbs, 
of Lehigh, and the Rev. Mr. Phillips, of 
Easton, delivered discourses, and the Rev. 
J. S. Herman had charge of the consecra- 
tory services proper. The association 
framed for the management of this burial 
ground, was formally organized on April 
12, 1862. 

The first funeral was that of Isadore, son 
of William and Esther Weiser, aged seven 
years, one month, and three days. 

Like Hope Cemetery, Fairview is inde= 
pendent of ecclesiastical control. 

In igo6 an additional plot of land, con- 
taining ten acres, lying on the opposite side 
of the Easton Road, and some two hundred 
yards to the west of the limits of the ori- 
ginal cemetery, was purchased by the trus- 
tees. No interments have yet been made 
in the addition. 

The present officers of the company are : 
J. Daniel Sharadin, president ; Jeff. C. 
Hoch, secretary ; Wilson B. Kutz, treas- 
urer. Supervisors, Nicholas W. Kieflfer, 
Nathan S. Schmehl. Oscar O. Sell. Direc- 
tors, Wm. Bieber, Henry Wagenhorst, Mi- 
chael Braucher, Reuben Weidenhammer, 



T. Daniel Sharadin, Jeff. C. Hoch, Wilson 
B. Kutz, Nicholas W. Kieffer, Nathan S. 
Schmehl. 

Hope Cemetery 

On April 8th, 1861, an application was 
filed for the opening of a new burial ground 
which is now known as Hope Cemetery. 
It adjoins the old burial plot belonging to 
St. John's LTnion Church. The petitioners 
of Hope Cemetery were : Samuel Schwey- 
er, William Hine, Daniel Bieber, David 
Kutz, John W. Bieber, Jacob R. HefiFner, 
Chas. W. Esser. 

I. Pringle Jones, President Judge of the 
Berks County on September 17th, 1861, 
granted the petition. 

The first Board of Trustees were : Henry 
Schmick, Jacob R. Heffner, William Hoch, 
George S. Kutz, Gabriel Klein, Daniel Yox- 




Fairview Cemetery and Fairview Mansion 
(Fistt Grave Indicated by Arrow) 

theimer, William Heine, Charles S. Kutz, 
and J. Daniel Wanner. The officers of the 
board were : George S. Kutz, President ; 
Charles W. Esser, Secretary, and William 
Hine, Treasurer. 

The present board are : Jacob S. Swoyer, 
John A. Schwoyer, George Wink, David D. 
kutz, James Schaeffer, C. D. Herman, Sam- 
uel S. Heffner. George Glasser and Fred N. 
Baer. The officers are: David D. Kutz, 
President; Jacob S. Swoyer, Secretary, and 
James Schaeffer, Treasurer. 



ii8 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



THE POST OFFICE 



In earl_y times postal facilities were very 
limited. Even so late as 1835 the citizens 
of the vicinity, in order to enjoy the read- 
ing of their paper, "The Neutralist," with- 
out great delay, "were forced to organize 
societies, the object of which was to eke 
out the deficiencies of their postal accommo- 
dations. Thus, at a meeting- of its sub- 
scribers in Rockland, Au2;ust i, 1835, they 
bound themselves, each in his turn, under 
a penalty of fifty cents, to bring the paper 
from the printing office every Wednesday 
and deliver it on Thursday morning at the 

Office 



store of Thomas Oyster."' (Ermentrout). 

The first post office in the county was at 
Reading, established March 20, 1793. Next 
was Hamburg, Juh' i, 1798. Kutztown was 
third, July i, 1805. Subjoined is a list of 
the postmasters, as furnished May 21, 1915, 
to the Centennial Historical Committee by 
Daniel C. Roper, First Assistant Postmaster 
General, through the kindly services of 
Postmaster Llewellyn Angstadt. It will be 
noted that until September 19, 1835, the 
official spelling of the name of the town was 
"Cootstown." 



Postmaster 



Date of 
Appointment 



Cootstown, Pa Jacob Harman, Est 1805, July ist 

Henry Heist 1806, Oct. I 

Joseph Heist 1821, Feb. 

" Name changed 1835, Sept. ig 

Kutztown, Pa Joseph Heist 1835, Sept. 19 

C. B. Bast 1851, Feb. 25 

George J. Fister 1853. Mav ■; 

H. F. Bickel 1857, Dec. 4 

" Charles Helfrich 1861, June 25 

Daniel Bieber i86s, Mar. 2 

Jacob C. Geehr i86s, Dec. 6 

H. F. Bickel 1867, April IQ 

" Jonathan Bieber 1869, April 10 

C. H. Bieber 1880, Oct. 4 

William Sander 188s, April 8 

M. T. Donmoyer 1889, May i 

(First Presidential Postmaster) 

" Wm. R. Sander 1894, May 3 

" John P. S. Fenstermacher 1898, May 12 

" , Llewellyn Angstadt 1914, INTar. 20 



Note — The first appointment made as 
Third Class was that of M. T. Donmoyer 
(Re-appointed) by President Harrison, 
April 26, 1890. 

So far the First Assistant Postmaster Gen- 
eral. The following notes may be added : 

Under Henry Heist and Joseph Heist was 
the post office was conducted in a stone 
building, which, burned down in 1859, stood 
where Jacob H. Stump's house now stands. 
Joseph Heist was a cripple, a hunchback, 
with one side of his face disfigured with a 
birthmark. 

C. B. Bast kept the post office where now 
W. S. Christ has his store. 

George J. Fister, brother to Col. T. D. 
Fister, sorted the mail in the building where 
now jeweler Wm. E. Myers regulates time- 
pieces. 

In 1857 Hiram F. Bickel removed the 
office to where Alvin S. Christ's stationery 
store now is. Dur'ing his second term of 
office, 1867-1869, he "had it in the D. L. 
Wartzenluft building, then owned by the 
Rev. J. S. Herman. 



Charles Helfrich had the office where now 
is the Keystone Five and Ten Cent Store, 
the property of the D. B. Snyder Estate. 
For a time, however, while he was post- 
master he was located in the frame house 
of Mrs. Isaac Strasser, on the northeast 
corner of Main street and Strasser alley, 
where now is A. M. Herman's Ten Cent 
Store. 

Capt. Daniel Bieber, grandfather of Con- 
gressman Arthur G. Dewalt, kept the office 
at the same place. 

Jacob C. Geehr, succeeding Bieber, re- 
mained in the same building for a time and 
then moved to Daniel R. Levan's building, 
on the corner of Main and Greenwich 
streets. 

Jonathan Bieber, grandfather of Rev. 
Alilton T. Bieber and'Dr. U. S. G. Bieber. 
moved the office to the house now occupied 
by Charles A. Hottenstein, D. D. S. 

Clinton H. Bieber, son of Captain Daniel 
Bieber, and uncle of Hon. A. G. Dewalt, 
continued in the same place. 

William Sander moved the office to his 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



119 



liome farther up town, next to the home of 
l^r. X. Z. Duiikelberger. 

Milton T. Donmoyer, hving in the Levan 
house, corner of Main and Greenwich 
streets, re-estabhslied the office in the quar- 
ters occupied some twent)' _years before. 

WilHam R. Sanders, becoming post- 
master, took the office back to the Sander 
home. 

John P. S. Kenstermacher started in 
where C. D. Herman's clothing store now 
is. Later he fitted up the room occupied by 
the office in his own home until a few 
days ago. 

Llewellyn Angstadt beginning in the 
Fenstermacher house has within the last 



few days removed the office to its present 
location, which now, greatly improved and 
more than ever suited to the purpose, is 
for the third time the home of the Kutz- 
town post office. 

No one seems to have any recollection of 
the first postmaster, Jacob Harman, or of 
the location of the office while he was in 
charge. 

The present office force consists of 
Llewellyn Angstadt ; postmaster ; Jonathan 
Dietrich, assistant postmaster; Mrs. Lynn 
Koch, clerk ; Samuel N. Angstadt, sub- 
clerk. 

There are seven incoming mails daily and 
eight outgoing and four rural routes. 




Chari^es O'Neii, 
Who was a familiar figure in Kutztown years ago 



H %^m 


j^^PBtBBB 


^1 s 


wKfS^Mfm 


^^9n^i 


H 






^^^^^K^'' 



The above is a picture of Mrs. Mary Schlenker at her spinning wheel. She was married to Josiah 

Schlenker and they were the parents of 17 children, five of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. 

Schlenkerwere natives of Greenwich. She died at Grimsville in 1901 



t20 



lhxtexxial history of kutztowx 



THE PRESS OF THE CENTURY 



BY CONRAD GEHEING 



It is at the request of the historical com- 
mittee that I reduce to writing my exper- 
iences as an humble representative of the 
press which was one of the strong forces 
in the development of Kutztown in the 
centurv just completed. At the outstart 
I want to mention that the newspapers were 
only the mouthpieces of a strong progres- 
sive spirit that prevailed in Kutztown from 
away back and in every new movement the 
papers had the solid backing of a noble and 
aggressive citizenship. Whatever the pa- 
pers advocated in the line of progress was 
heartily supported by a class of citizens of 
which every community might be proud. 
In every movement -that was proposed by 
the papers the only question was, "Is it 
right?" and if the answer was in the affirma- 
tive, every man put his shoulder to the 
wheel, and it was right in the end. In 
the century which is Ijeing celebrated now 
the writer can only cover 37 years by per- 
sonal experience, but that, of course, is an 
essential part of the century. 

Kutztown was enterprising from the start 
and the need of a newspaper was felt in 
its earlv existence. An attempt was made 
to publish a German weekly before the 
forties, but no success was attained until a 
man by the name of Hawrecht established 
the Geist dcr Zcit. Mr. Hawrecht was a 
man of literary attainments and published 
a German paper that was a credit to him- 
self and the community. The writer in his 
early life had access to the files of the Gcist 
dcr Zcit. but they subsequently disappeared 
much to his regret. No doubt they are still 
in existence and the future historian may 
be able to obtain them and thereby open a 
splendid source of information about Kutz- 
town before the Civil War. As it is, the 
writer has to start from the time of his 
personal knowledge. 

How I Got to Kutztown 
When I entered the office of the Penii- 
syh'anicr. a German paper, published at 
Lebanon, Pa., as an apprentice to the print- 
ers' trade (then a boy of 17 years), I be- 
came acquainted with Daniel Miller, a jour- 
neyman and as things were then conducted 
in printing offices, considered the foreman 
of the shop. The Pcnnsyh'anicr was the 
leading and money-making paper of the 
county, because the language of the people 
was Pennsylvania German and all the sales 
.if farm stock, commonly called "vendues," 



characteristic of German Pennsylvania to 
this day, were published in the German 
paper and well paid for. There were tvyo 
prosperous English weeklies, Tlic Courier, 
published by W'arth and Reinoehl, (Repub- 
lican), and the Lebanon Advertiser, (Dem- 
ocratic ) , published by William JJreslin. 
which, as the language changed, gained in 
circulation whilst the Pcnusylvanier was 
bound, for the same reason, to go back- 
ward. The relation between Daniel Miller 
and myself developed into a fast friendship. 

"Dan," as I always called him, was am- 
bitious and a fine type of the brainy Penn- 
sylvania Germans. Having little schooling 
the printing office became his university, 
where he pursued his studies with a zeal 
that made him a fluent writer in English 
and German and an author and publisher of 
renown. 

In the Grant campaign of 1868, when 
Berks county had no German Republican 
organ, the enterprising leaders of the 
"Grand Old Party" collected a fund and 
started a German campaign paper under the 
name of Rcpublikancr von Berks. When 
Grant was elected and the fund exhausted 
Daniel Miller bought the Repiiblikaner von 
Berks, built up a good circulation and laid 
the foundation for his successful publishing 
house. He asked me to go along to Read- 
ing as foreman of his office and complete 
my apprenticeship with higher pay. I ac- 
cepted the offer. Dan subsequently ob- 
tained the contract to publish the Reforinirte 
Hausfrcnnd. edited by Rev. Dr. B. Baus- 
man, of sainted memory, and later establish- 
ed the Reformed Church Record, besides 
publishing numerous books. 

Whilst working in this capacity I formed 
many fast friendships, among these was a 
German confectioner and ice cream manu- 
facturer, who had his place at the southeast 
corner of Sixth and Franklin streets. He 
was well educated and a poet of consider- 
able ability. One day in the fall of 1871 
he sent a messenger to the office requesting 
me to call at his place, as he had a matter 
of great importance to discuss with me. 
When I got to his place he introduced me 
to a stranger of nearly middle age, as the 
publisher of the Kut::tozi'n Journal. His 
name was Isaac F. Christ. Air. Christ, who 
had been a farmer and school teacher, with 
no knowledge of the printing trade, but with 
considerable enterprise, had begun the publi- 
cation of the Kutztoii'n Journal, a German 



CEXTEXKIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



121 



weekly. Not being a printer himself, he 
had to depend upon employed help tor the 
editorial and meclianicai work ot tne paper, 
whilst he himselt conducted a dooK store 
and the business otitice. His last editor and 
printer had just left him in the lurch and 
lie applied to his friend Kuler wnether he 
coulun t recommend him a steady man who 
would fit the place. Mr. Kuler answered in 
the affirmative and sent for me. ft took but 
a short time to come to terms and i prom- 
ised to come to fvutztown on the big lair 
day ('f'hursdayj of the following weeK. I 
did as promised, looked the planr over and 
made an agreement. I'he first number un- 
der my editorial and mechanical manage- 
ment appeared on 'f hursday, November lO, 
1871. Ihe paper had been established f'"eb. 
I, 1870, shortly after the Ivutztown branch 
of the Allentovvn and Auburn Railroad had 
been opened, which was the first railroad 
connection in the old town's history. The 
first editor was Charles Kolbe, of Doyles- 
town, Bucks count}', and he was followed 
by Fred. Konietzky, who had formerly 
worked on Rosenthal's Reading Post. 

Incidentally it may be mentioned here, 
that Mr. Rosenthal had bought the hand 
press and other material of the defunct 
Gcist der Zeit and Dcr Xcutralist which 
had flourished in Kutztown for many years 
before the Civil War. The publisher of the 
Geist dcr Zeit was Mr. Hawrecht, already 
mentioned. He raised a conspicuous fam- 
ily of sons and daughters. The writer had 
the honor of starting housekeeping in the 
home on Walnut street which Mr. Haw- 
recht built for himself. When the Ohio 
fever broke out, Mr. Hawrecht, with his 
printing outfit and family, moved to Ohio, 
but later came back and in partnership with 
Charles Wink published Der Xeutralist. 

How Kutztown Looked 

The writer started for the Kutztown fair 
and for what proved to be the field of his 
labors for an average life-time. x\fter leav- 
ing Reading he was a stranger in a strange 
land. There were then on the East Perm 
branch of the Philadelphia and Reading sys- 
tem only three trains connecting for kutz- 
town, one in the morning, one at noon and 
one in the afternoon. There was then, as 
there has been ever since, a special train 
on account of the big day of the Kutztown 
fair, but the writer took the regular morn- 
ing train. As a matter of course, every 
farm, every village, every stopping point, 
the hills on the right, the flourishing rich 
valley on the left, every person entering or 
leaving the train, their language, manner of 
speech and bearing was a subject of ob- 



servation and study. It was soon evident 
to the writer that his lot had fallen in one 
of riie best sections of the grand State of 
Pennsylvania and among a class of people 
who for straightforwardness, integrity, in- 
dustry, thrift, hospitality and unaffected, un- 
pretentious friendship has no superiors. 

At Topton, so named because it is the 
highest point on the East Penn Railroad, 
between Reading and AUentown, the pas- 
sengers had to change cars for Kutztown. 
'I he branch to Kutztown was the only com- 
pleted link of the projected AUentown and 
.Vuburn Railroad. Approaching Kutztown 
the stranger from the car window tried to 
"size up" the town. It stretched up from the 
Saucony Creek, in two pretty compact lines 
of houses to the top of a commanding emi- 
nence on which was visible the original 
building of the Keystone State Normal 
ScIkoi. There was one parallel street only 
partly built up, Walnut street (then pop- 
ularly called back street, or in Pennsylvania 
German hinnerstross.) There were four 
lateral streets, Greenwich, Noble, White 
Oak and Baldy's Lane, but only sparsely 
built up. The one-arch masonry bridge 
across the Saucony looked too small for 
the watershed of the stream, and this first 
impression was verified when the usual 
spring flood came next season. Then the 
bridge looked like a diminutive fort lost in 
a raging river. On the right, going up 
M,-'n street, was an old log house, while 
on the left were Daniel J- Sharadin's tan- 
nery and residence, strong signs of thrift 
and prosperity. For the rest of the stretch 
the houses were a varied picture of con- 
s^truction, some of substantial limestone, a 
few of broad-board frame, with side bench- 
es on the stoop, and most of them of brick 
and modern looking. All of them presented 
an air of prosperity and contentment. The 
bteady march of progress has not only mod- 
ernized the entire aspect of the town but 
extended and broadened it in every direc- 
tion until today it is one of the prettiest and 
most wide-awake little cities in the Key- 
stone State. 

The CR.vnLE of, the Patriot 

The printing ofifice of the Kutatozvn 
Journal, which was destined to develop 
into a prominent publication house, was 
neither remarkable for size, arrangement 
nor comfort. But it answered its purpose 
and was only the first unit of a more com- 
nrehensive olan. The buildino-, erected in 
the rear of Mr. Christ's bookstore and resi- 
dence, next door to the time-honored Penn- 
svlvania House, was of frame about 16x20 
feet, one story, with a two-story annex 



122 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVX 



in the rear. Mr. Christ had bought 
from Ritter and Hawley, pubhshers of 
the Reading Adlcr and Reading Uagic, 
the old Hoe railway press, which nad 
done service for the Reading Gazette, 
the forerunner of the weekly Eagle. The 
press took up by far the greater part of 
the room. Ihe type cases, stone and edi- 
torial desk were lined up against the one 
side and rear wall. The annex was built of 
light frame and could not be used in cold 
weather. Inside of two years, however, Mr. 
Christ built a second story on the original 
unit and had the whole plastered. After 
that there was ample room, good light and 
the whole place comfortable. 

About this time Kutztown started upon 
an era of progressiveness and prosperity. 
.Business was Dooming and everybody tell 
in with the spirit of the times, iiesides 
flourishing stores there were three banks, 
also a private bank; they were the Kutz- 
town Mational Bank, founded by one of the 
most aggressive spirits Kutztown ever had. 
Col. Ihos. D. Fister; the Kutztown Savings 
Bank, of which A. J. Fogel, formerly ot 
Fogelsville, was the head, and the Peabody 
Savings Bank, conducted by J. Daniel Wan- 
ner and his son, Solon A. The private bank 
was that of Dr. Ed. Hottenstein, the father 
of a prominent family of physicians. Every- 
thing was booming and the printing office 
kept pace with the times. 

Prof. John S. Ermentrout, the first prin- 
cipal of the Keystone State Normal School, 
a scholarly man, of the salt of the earth, 
had turned Catholic and became a mem- 
ber of the faculty of St. Charles Barromeo 
Seminary, Philadelphia, 'ihe board of trus- 
tees elected as his successor Rev. Dr. A. R. 
Home, then city superintendent of Wil- 
liamsport, an educator and author of re- 
nown. As his term as city superintendent 
did not expire until the spring of 1872, 
Prof. N. C. Schaefifer, a son of Alaxatawny 
township, one of the first graduates of the 
new Normal School and a graduate of 
Franklin and Marshall College, was made 
acting principal in the interim. .\t the ex- 
piration of the interim Prof. Schaeffer went 
to Germany to complete his education in 
the leading universities of the Fatherland. 
The reader, of course, will at once perceive 
the connection between the then acting 
principal and the present famous head of 
education of Pennsylvania, an educator of 
world-wide fajne. 

When Rev. Dr. Home arrived in Kutz- 
town he brought with him the Xational 
Educator, an educational monthly, which 
he founded in his earlv career and which 



was then published by contract from the 
Journal office. 

Being somewhat ambitious and possessed 
of a strong desire to run his own plant, the 
writer entertained a proposition from his 
former boss to go to Snyder county and 
revive the defunct Middlcburg Volksfreund. 
Accordingly he resigned his ivutztown posi- 
tion, to take effect April i, 1873, and went 
to Middleburg. Whilst he succeeded in 
raising cjuite a respectable subscription list, 
he soon discovered that because of the tran- 
sition of language, there was no future for 
him in that field and he kept his eye open 
for better fields. When in the fall of the 
same year he had occasion to go to I-^hila- 
delphia to participate in the parade in honor 
of the dedication of the new Masonic Tem- 
ple, he concluded to go home by the way 
of Kutztown, in order to meet some of the 
friends he had left there. Arriving at Top- 
ton, to change cars for Kutztown, he met 
Isaac F. Christ, the proprietor of the Kutz- 
town printing office, who at once extended 
to him a flattering offer to come back to 
his old place with the privilege of naming 
his own salary. The offer was accepted and 
Conrad moved back to his old stamping 
grounds. 

When the writer left for Middleburg his 
position as editor and superintendent was 
filled by Emil Meister, also a Swiss by 
birth and a scholarly man. He went from 
Kutztown to Baltimore to take charge of 
the Baltimore Weeker, a prominent German 
daily. While thus engaged in journalistic 
work he incidentally studied for the Luth- 
eran ministry and was ordained as a minis- 
ter of the Lutheran Church of the new 
school, or what was then and still is known 
as the General Synod. He accepted a call 
to Lancaster where he built up St. Steohen's 
church and made quite a name for himself 
as an organizer and author of German 
church publications. 

TiiK P.vTRioT Enters Tiir: Fikld 

The writer foresaw that owing to the 
fact that the public schools laid stress on 
the English language and German was only 
taught ill the home, the Sunday Schools 
and catechetical classes, the German would 
in course of time be superceded by the 
English. The territory was in a state of 
transition so far as language was concerned. 
He proposed to the publisher, Mr. Christ, 
that we start a new paper, half English 
and half German, which could keeo apace 
'vith the transition, increase its English 
nart and finally become an Eng-lish paper. 
The publisher saw the matter in the same 
lig-ht and thi result was the American 



CEXTEXNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVN 



123 



Weekly Patriot. The first number appeared 
ijaturaay, May 16, 1874. The editorial an- 
nouncement explamea its intents and aims 
in the following words : "Instead of stating 
in a long article how and what we will du, 
we simply refer our readers to the present 
number, which will show them that the 
paper contains English and German read- 
ing matter and is especially adapted to that 
class of Pennsylvania Germans and those 
families who are educated in the one and 
are anxious of acquiring the other lan- 
guage. We hope and believe that our ef- 
forts in furnishing our community with 
reading matter especially adapted to its var- 
ious Classes will be properly appreciated 
and a large subscription list be the re- 
sponse." 

A Change of Ownership 
Among the many apprentices who were 
initiated into the black art at this office 
and made names for themselves was Alfred 
B. Urick, a native of Lebanon county. He 
left the office to take a business course in 
Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, 
N. Y. After the lapse of some time he 
came to Kutztown and proposed to the 
writer a partnership to buy the plant if the 
owner was willing to sell. Mr. Christ was 
willing and the printing office passed to the 
ownership of Urick and Gehring. This was 
in March, 1875. The first numbers under 
the new management appeared April i, 1875. 
Mr. Christ retained the book store and sub- 
sequently turned it over to his son, Alvin 
S. Christ, who conducted it successfully for 
about two decades, improving it from time 
to time and in his earl)^ career connecting 
with it a job printing office that turned out 
good work. 

The new firm of Urick and Gehring en- 
joyed a prosperous era and improved the 
plant as time went on. In the first summer 
it introduced steam power and added much 
new job type. Feeling hampered by the 
rear location of the printing office, it looked 
around for a prominent front location on 
Main street. The opportunity presented it- 
self, when D. B. Snyder, a progressive citi- 
zen completed a desirable three-story brick 
business house, on Main street, next door 
to his residence. The first floor of the spac- 
ious building was intended for a drug store 
of Mr. Snyder's son-in-law, J. F. Brein- 
inger, whilst the second floor, with an easy 
stairway, lent itself nicely to the purposes 
of a growing printing office. 

1876 — Centennial — A Great Year 
The dawn of the centennial year of the 
declaration of American independence 
(1876) found Kutztown well prepared and 



in line with the best communities of these 
great United States to do honor to the 
shining event. The spirit of patriotism was 
wide awake and willing to do and celebrate. 
The local journals led by increasing their 
size from seven columns to eight columns 
to the folio page and making other im- 
provements. Besides they were untiring 
in advocating and supporting every move- 
ment tending to glorify the valorous deeds 
of the fathers, who not only declared, but 
also achieved American independence and 
laid the solid foundation for this great 
nation of the West. 

Another Change of Firm 

In the course of time the partners came 
to the conclusion that a partnership in this 
kind of business was not desirable and ami- 
cably agreed to dissolve. The writer sold 
his interests to Mr. Urick, but retained his 
position as editor, etc., under the sole pro- 
prietor. The dissolution went into effect 
April I, 1877. 

The growth of the business again re- 
quired more room and when Dr. J. S 
Trexler, a prominent physician, erected sev- 
eral business houses between the Keystone 
House and his residence, Mr. Urick rented 
the one nearest the Keystone House and 
moved the printing office to that place. The 
removal occurred on the ninth anniversary 
of the Joiirnalj the first week in February, 
1878. 

This was a desirable place for a business 
of this kind. Mr. Urick opened a book 
store on the first floor, with the business 
office in the rear. On the second floor were 
the composing and editorial rooms, while 
the power presses were housed in the base- 
ment. When Mr. Urick added a Potter news 
and job press the plant was in a position to, 
and did, turn out some excellent job work, 
such as the annual catalog of the Keystone 
State Normal School which from year to 
vear demanded a higher class of work, com- 
mensurate with the wonderful progress of 
the famous institution itself. Books and 
half-tone work were issued equal to the 
productions of competing cities. 

Mr. Urick was an ambitious man, whose 
pAw.s ran higher than the returns of a coun- 
try printing office. The Florida and orange 
srrove fever broke out about that time and 
he was one of the many northerners who 
went down to the flowery state to astonish 
the native "crackers." He had meanwhile 
married Miss Mary Kistler, a daughter of 
Nathan Kistler. of Kistler's Valley, Lehiarh 
county, near the Berks border, and with 
his family moved to that semi-tropical pen- 
insula, on an orange plantation, which he 
had bought. The business at Kutztown 



124 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



was meanwhile left in the hands of the writ- 
er, who, with two sisters of the proprietor, 
Misses Kate and Amanda L'rick, ran the es- 
"tablishnient to the best interests of its owner. 

In the meanwhile another of the most 
enterprising' apprentices of the office, Jacob 
1!. Esser, had finished his trade and left 
for the larger cities to perfect and advance 
himself in his profession. He had exacted 
from his preceptor and friend, the writer, 
the promise that if ever Mr. L'rick betrayed 
any inclination to sell out, he wanted to be 
the first man to be considered as a buyer. 
The moment arrived in due time, and in 
1887, the ownership of the Kutztown print- 
ing office, with all that pertained to it, 
passed over to Jacob B. Esser. 

Mr. Urick entered the grocery business 
in the Snyder Building and subsequently 
moved to Baxter Springs, in the extreme 
southern corner of Kansas, to grow up 
with the country. Later he moved up fur- 
ther north and engaged in extensive real 
estate and mining operations. Under Cleve- 
land's first administration he was appointed 
postmaster in some important Kansas town, 
near the Missouri border and at the same 
time continued in the real estate business. 

J. B. Esser's Period 
Mr. Esser's administration brought with 
it many important changes and improve- 
ments. In order to get more room for the 
growing business, the office was removed 
across the street to the Rev. Herman build- 
ing which N. S. Schmehl had acquired 
and part of the first floor of which he had 
converted into a hardware store, with open 
front. The book store was discontinued, 
whilst the other part of the first floor was 
used by Mr. Urick as a wall paper store 
with the business office in the rear. The 
composing room was on the second floor, 
with the editorial sanctum in the rear and 
the presses housed in an anex in the rear 
of the first floor. The job work had by 
this time greatly increased and new type 
and new material was acquired as occasion 
arose and lots of fine work was turned out 
for the community, Reading and other cities. 
.\. F. DeLong, one of the best and most 
faithful apprentices of the early vears, had 
meanwhile risen to the foremanship of the 
plant and the mechanical part was always 
safe in his hands no matter where his sun- 
eriors were. He is still connected with the 
nlant and performing his duties as faith- 
fully, but, of course improved by much ex- 
perunco. as he did fortv \ears ago. 

The P.\triot Blossoms Into All English 

Catching the spirit of the original des- 

tinv of the Patriot. Mr. Esser considered the 



time ripe to turn the Patriot into an all- 
English paper. Continuing the English 
'patent outside" he engaged Jefi^. C. I loch 
as local editor to conduct the second and 
third pages of the paper. Previously Mr. 
Hoch was a school teacher, farmer, poultry 
raiser and all-around useful man. Bv this 
time he had retired from farming and his 
new position offered him a useful field for 
his ability and acquirements. The Patriot 
made good progress as an English paper. 

Iticreasing business demanded larger 
quarters and in 1905 Mr. Esser erected the 
present two-story brick structure to the 
rear of his property on Alain street which 
is the present location of the Kutztown 
Publishing Company. The lower floor is 
used as an oftre, paper stock house and 
press room, while the second floor is used 
as a composing room, job press room and 
editorial room. This fine building gave Mr. 
Esser ample room to arrange his machinery, 
type cabinets, etc., in a more convenient and 
accessible manner. The change marked an 
epoch in the history of local newspaperdom 
and from that date until the present the 
paper and other products of the plant have 
greatly increased. 

A Live Wire Spurt 

In the fall of 1894 there appeared upon 
the stage of Kutztown journalism a new 
live-wire performer destined to make his de- 
but on the Patriot stage and then rise by 
easy stages to one of the highest positions in 
the New York newspaper world. This was 
Howard C. Hillegas, a brother-in-law of 
Mr. Esser. He was a recent graduate of 
Franklin and Marshall College, at Lan- 
caster, vigorous of body and mind and im- 
bued with all the elements that enter into 
the make-up of a born journalist. He was 
made editor and promoter of the Patriot. 
The patent outside was discarded and the 
paper turned into an all home-print sheet 
that made the papers and reading public 
of Eastern Pennsylvania look up and read. 
The Patriot gained rapidlv in circulation 
and influence. But the Hillegas spirit soon 
found the field too narrow and at the expira- 
tion of seven months of meteoric work he 
resigned his position to take charge of a 
Bloomsburg daily. From there he left for 
still larger fields and rose and rose until to- 
day he is one of the leading editors of the 
AVk' York Herald. Leaving the Patriot he 
had the following kind words to say of his 
successor : 

"Mr. Conrad Gehring, who will next 
week assume editorial control of this paper, 
has been in the newspaper business the 
greater part of his life and for twenty-five 
vears has catered to the wants of the public 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



throvigh the columns of the Kutztovvn news- 
papers. On November 4, 1871, he took 
editorial charge of the Kiitclozcn Journal 
and with the exception of seven months in 
1873, he has since then had charge of that 
standard publication. He is an experienced, 
well-read and enterprising newspaper man 
and fluent writer, and the readers of the 
Patriot may expect a decided improvement 
of the paper." ( The concluding phrase, of 
course, was complimentary). 

Hillegas, after a series of upward steps, 
became connected with the famous New 
York Journal and in the interests of that 
naper undertook a trip to the Boer Republic 
in South Africa at the outbreak of the 
. Boer- English War. He personally met 
Oom Paul, the venerable president of that 
oeaceful and thrifty reoublic, and subse- 
fiuentv wrote an interesting book on "Oom 
Paul and his people." 

In September, 1909, the Daily City Item, 
of Allentown, refers to him, in connection 
with others, in the following article : 

"The Nczii York Sun of Tuesday had an 
account of the Independence League 
( Hearst League ) giving a banquet at the 
Cafe Boulevard, in New York City, to 
Charles E. Gehring, chairman of the county 
committee, at which were present some of 
the most prominent politicians in New 
York. 

"The Charles E. Gehring, mentioned 
above, is the son of Conrad Gehring, for 
many year.s editor of the Kuiztmvn Patriot 
and Journal and now of the proof room of 
the Reading Eagle. Charles learned the 
trade of printer in the office of the Patriot 
and then struck out for New York. He 
caught on, and for years worked on the 
Tribune and other papers. He became in- 
terested in politics and became one of 
Hearst's right hand men. 

"It is peculiar the number of Kutztown 
boys who learned their trade in the old 
Patriot office under Conrad Gehrinsr, who 
won out in New York, where the failures 
are so many and the successes so few. One 
young man who left for New York from 
the Patriot office is now one of the leading 
and foremost Masons in that city. (The 
writer refers to Martin O. Good). Sev- 
eral others occupy responsible positions on 
the Nevj York Herald. World and Tribune. 
and all are doing well. Howard Hillegas, 
the assistant citv editor of the Neiv York 
Herald, started his career as a newspaper 
man on the Patriot. Friend Conrad lias 
ample reason to feel proud of the calibre 
of bovs he turned out in the old Patriot 
office." (If I mistake not the above article 
was penned by my deceased friend Oliver 



C. Henninger and his well-known modest\- 
forbade him to mention that he was one of 
the brightest of those Kutztown boys. He 
went to New York, made good, came back 
to Allentown and made good as an editor 
and besides became a brilliant orator, whose 
speeches were sought and heard in different 
parts of the countr}^) 

Threu EpiTors Now 
When Hillegas left, j\Ir. Esser, the pub- 
lisher said to the writer, "Hillegas left but 
the high standard of the Patriot must be 
maintained. Whom can you suggest as a 
suitable successor?" I mentioned several 
names. He said, "I want a few days to 
consider the matter." After the lapse of 
the few days he invited me to a walk and 
incidental private conversation. He said, 
"What's the matter with you taking the 
position?" "Well," I said, "If vou give me 
Rev. Dr. W. W. Deatrick as editorial writ- 
er on the Patriot and Julius Schneider (who 
had taken my place when I was down with 
tvphoid fever) as assistant on the Journal. 
I will tmdertake it." "That suits m'e," Mr. 
Esser said and so it came to pass. And 
this hour marked the beginning of another 
epoch of substantial growth and progress. 

Rev. W. W. De.-\trick. Sc. D. 
The man whom I selected as editorial 
writer for the Patriot is a man of extra- 
ordinary qualities. He had become a mem- 
ber of the faculty of the Keystone State 
Normal School, coming here from the west- 
ern part of Pennsylvania, where he had 
been prominently active both as a minister 
of the Gospel and an educator. He is a Re- 
formed minister, the son of a minister and 
the brother of another Reformed minister 
Rev. E. R. Deatrick, B. D., pastor at Mar- 
tinsburg. Pa. I soon learned to admire him 
for his scholarship, his indomitable industrv, 
his capacity for work, his classic English 
and his manliness in dealing with a foe- 
man of opposite view on any question. 
Those are the sterling qualities any com- 
munity needs in its public men, for after 
the contests are over, the losses and gains 
compared, there can only be one result — 
plus. 

Julius Schneider 
The man selected for the German i«per 
was picked up from the ore mines. He 
was one of those who are generally classed 
as shipwrecked by their own fault. Born 
at Halle an der Saale, ( the same citv whpre 
once was active Rev. Heinrich Melchior 
Muhlenberg, the father of the Lutheran 
Church in America) he enjoyed unusual 
opportunities for education and social life. 



126 



CEXTEXNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



His father was a prosperous merchant, who 
gave his only son the choice between a mer- 
cantile career or the ministry. Julius chose 
neither, but set sail for America, to seek his 
own fortune. After working on farms in 
New York and New Jersey, he drifted to 
Eastern Pennsylvania, where the iron ore 
business was then in its zenith. His social 
dualities and culture, that hard work could 
not wear off, made him friends wherever 
he came in contact with people. That was 
the way in which the writer learned to know 
and appreciate him and landed him in the 
chair of local editor of the KttfcfoztTi 
Journal. 

Karl Julius Herman Schneider, the faith- 
ful editor of the Kutztoivn Journal for sev- 
enteen years, was born Feb. 27, 1848 at 
Halle on the River Saale. Province of Sax- 
ony, Kingdom of Prussia, Germany. He 
came to America on March 17, 1868. He 
came from a fine family in Germany and 
received a good education. He worked in 
various caoacities in New York and New 
Jersey and finally came to Berks county 
where the iron ore industry was then in its 
zenith. Being a man of culture and win- 
ning social qualities, he readily made friends 
and his services in various capacities were 
always in demand. 

He died on Tuesdav, October 24. iqii. 
at the Reading Hosnital, from heart failure, 
and was buried in Hope Cemetery. 

Rev. F. K. Bernd, Editor op the 
KuTzTowN Journal 
And this is the way it happened. Julius 
Schneider became dangerously sick in Oc- 
tober, 191 1. He could not get out the edi- 
tion of the Kutctozvn Journal for October 
25. The proprietor, J. B. Esser, hastened to 
the home of the Rev. F. K. Bernd on 
Normal Hill, and asked him to come down 
to the printing office for the week and 
help him out. Mr. Esser told Bernd that 
Mr. Schneider would have to be taken to 
the hospital, and he hoped within a few 
weeks he would be able to take his old 
place again. After a good deal of coaxing 
Mr. Bernd promised to come to the office 
and see what he could do. The material 
was gotten readv and the paper published 
on time. The following week the report 
came that there was hardlv anv hope of 
Mr. Schneider's recovery. The new editor 
pro tem was prevailed upon to get the next 
edition in shape, and before it was put on 
press Mr. Schneider had died. Mr. Esser 
not knowing in what direction to look for 
the man he wanted, again prevailed upon 
Mr. Bernd to continue the work for at 
least a while, and thus it happened that he 
is still at the post, doing the work. 



Rev. F. K. Bernd became Julius' suc- 
cessor as editor of the Journal and still fills 
the position. 

Gehring Goes to New York 
This plan worked very well and the print- 
ing office enjoyed another era of prosperity. 
In the meanwhile the health of the writer 
had become impaired, so much so that he 
concluded the onl^- remedy would be a 
change of climate. This change was made 
easy by a combination of favorable circum- 
stances. When he learned his trade the 
construction of a practical type-setting ma- 
chine was considered impossible. Many at- 
tempts had been made, but all proved fail- 
ures. In course of time, however, Otmar 
Mergenthaler, of Baltimore, a skilled Ger- 
man machinist, invented the linotype which 
revolutionized the printing trade all over the 
world. As the machine does the work of 
six men, five men out of every six found 
themselves out of employment wherever the 
machine was introduced. As a million-dol- 
lar syndicate had taken hold of the patent, 
the machine was introduced fast in all 
leading newspaper offices. To give union 
printers a chance io "learn the machine," 
the writer's son, Charles E. Gehring, who 
had become an expert operator on the N'ew 
York Tribui'e. opened a linotvpe school in 
the Worlc^ Building, in New York. Know- 
ing his father's ardent desire to master the 
machine before he should die of old age, he 
requested him to come to New York to as- 
sist him in runninsf the school and inci- 
dentally become proficient himself. The of- 
fer was accepted, the writer resigned his 
nositions on the Patriot and Journal and on 
Jan. I, T903, left for New York. 

Wm. S. Rhode Becomes Editor 
His successor as editor of the Patriot 
was Wm. S. Rhode, who had entered the 
office as an apprentice to the printers' 
trade. Rhode was one of the boys who 
had ambition and was willing to do the extra 
work that spells success. Knowing where 
he was deficient he burned midnight oil to 
advance himself. He took extra lessons in 
English under Dr. W. W. Deatrick, of the 
Keystone State Normal School and other- 
wise took advantage of everv opportunitv to 
increase his store of knowledge to fit him 
for the editorial chair that apparently was 
waiting for him. When the proper time 
came he was advanced to the chair and 
filled it with credit and during his adminis- 
tration the Patriot was enlarged from four 
to eight pages and the circulation nearly 
doubled. 

In due time his enterprising spirit caused 
him to broaden out and establish the Rural 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVN 



127 



Delivery and the Commercial County Direc- 
tories, at first limited to Berks county, but 
subsequently extended to most of the ad- 
vanced counties of eastern Pennsylvania. 

In igo6, besides his newspaper work, he 
published the first rural delivery directory 
in this part of the country. After issuins^ 
a number of creditable volumes of director- 
ies in Berks and adjoinin.^ counties Mr. 
Rhode discovered that the business people, 
especially those in the larger cities, required 
a more complete publication when he de- 
termined to publish the names of one and 
two counties under one cover and include 
a financial department in them. These pub- 
lications are now known as Rhode's Com- 
mercial County Directories and the names 
are alphabetically compiled. Besides this 
information all property owners are desig- 
nated, giving the assessed valuation and 
monies on interest. The acreage of farms 
is also included. With this information 
Rhode's Directories are easily in a class by 
themselves for completeness and unique 
compilation. Arrangements are now under 
wav to issue a directory of eight Pennsyl- 
vania counties under one cover. 

On April igth. iqo.=;. Mr. Rhode was 
married to Miss Edna C. Gehman. daugh- 
ter of Henry M. Gehman and his wife 
Clara fnee Laros) of Allentown. Mr. and 
Mrs. Rhode are the parents of one daugh- 
ter. Constance E. Rhode. 

In loii Mr. Rhode resigned his position 
to devote his entire attention to the publish- 
ing of County Directories. 

Mr. Williamson Becomes Editor 
He was succeeded as editor by Fred. T. 
Williamson, who became foreman of the 
printing office in 1905. Mr. Williamson 
filled the chair of editor most creditably for 
two years. He is now foreman of the job 
and proof reading departments. 

Chas. H. Esser Assumes Duties 
Chas. H. Esser is now filling the position 
as editor of the Patriot. He is a son of Mr. 
and Mrs. J. B. Esser and was born in Kutz- 
town. He graduated from the Keystone 
State Normal School in 1909 and from Muh- 
lenberg College in 191 3. While at college 
he devoted a great deal of his time to Eng- 
lish and journalism. He was employed as a 
reporter for the Allcntouii Morning Call for 
a few months. Notwithstanding his brief 
experience, but having really grown up in a 
printing office, he is becoming a very cap- 
able editor and business man. He was 
married on April 27, 1915, to Miss Ruth 
Rupp, of Lehighton. He is a member of 
Huguenot Eodge, No. 377, F. and A. j\I., 



Excelsior Chapter, No. 237, R. A. C, and 
of Adonai Castle, No. 70, K. G. E. 

J. B. EssER Retires and Kutztown Pub- 
lishing Company is Formed 
BY REV. F. K. bernd 

Owing to failing health Mr. J. B. Esser, 
the proprietor of the printing plant, felt 
constrained to retire from the active life 
which he had led for many years. It is 
well known that about a year prior to July, 
1913, Mr. Esser was stricken with a slight 
stroke of apoplexy and from that time on 
he had lost to a large extent his former 
activity and push. The business, therefore, 
reciuired a new head. Mr. Esser and his 
son, Charles, made an offer to Wm. S. 
Rhode, a former employee, who bought a 
half interest in the plant. 

This happened in June of 191 3. In the 
beginning of July of that year he sold out 
his interest to his son, Charles H., and Wm. 
S. Rhode. The new firm adopted the name 
The Kutatozvn Publishing Company, Mr. 
Rhode acting as president and Mr. Esser 
as secretar)'. 

Mr. Rhode's two years' absence from the 
office in which he was a conscientious work- 
er and learned his trade were most profit- 
ably spent. Through his directory work he 
was thrown into direct contact with some of 
the best and biggest business houses in the 
United States. He has many friends 
throughout Berks and adjoining countis who 
are now favoring him with their printing 
orders and use their influence in his behalf. 

During the two years of its existence the 
firm has made many important improve- 
ments, having revolutionized the entire 
plant. The Patriot was in a short time 
increased from eight to twelve pages, a 
number of new machines were installed, 
and in fact the entire office was rearranged 
and a new open front put in the buildins", 
which gives the establishment a cosmopol- 
itan appearance. The plant is thus prepared 
to do practically all kinds of work nertain- 
ing to a fully equipped printing establish- 
ment. The amount of new work brought 
in has been enormous, taxing the present 
efficient corns of "'orkers at times to their 
fullest capacitv. The work is of the highest 
order. In job and book printing, in fact 
in all lines of work, the new firm is easilv 
able to compete with anv establishment of 
its kind and canacitv. The linotvne machine 
i= in oneration dav and nieht. This historic- 
al edition of the Kutztown Centet^riial \'=- 
sociation is one of the manv bookc turned 
out bv the new firm. We besoeak for them 
an exceeding'lv nrosoernns future. 

Their publications are The Kiitztoivn Pa- 



128 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVX 



triot, an English weekly newspaper of 
twelve pages, the KiifcfozvnJoiinial, the only 
German newspaper in Berks county, Rhode's 
Commercial Countv Directories, and the 
Public Sales Bulletin. The latter publica- 
tion is the vest pocket edition of public sales 
of spring farm stock, is issued annually in 
January, 'and is in great demand. Of these 
booklets upwards of ten thousand are mailed 
direct to the farmers, butchers, drovers, 
hucksters, and others in Berks and Lehigh 
counties. 

CoNR.U) GEHRING 

Everybod\- in town and community knows 
about Conrad Gehring. The name has -i 
familiar sound. Although not any longer a 
resident of Kutztown, nevertheless from the 
time of his arrival in 1871 till his final de- 
parture in 1902, he took such a deep inter- 
est in the highest welfare of our borough, 
that any history of Kutztown w.ould be 
incomplete without mention of his name. 

Mr. Gehring hails from Switzerland. He 
was born in ''Buchberg, Canton of Schaf- 
fausen, Switzerland, on the 5th of January, 
icSsi. He studied in the town schools up 
to his 14th year when he entered the Aca- 
demy of Eglisan, and later attended the 
Realschule in the city of Schafifausen. In 
the fall of 1867 he came to America by wav 
of Paris and Liverpool on the "City of 
Paris." He landed in New York and from 
then he went to Philadelphia. In 1871 he 
accepted the editorship and managtment of 
the Kutrjtown Journal and became a citizen 
of our borough. During his spare hours 
he devoted himself assiduously, without the 
aid of a teacher, to the study of English. 
He soon became proficient in its use and 
could quite readilv converse in German, 
French and English. He uses choice Eng- 
lish in conversation and in writing. In 
i8q5 he became the editor of the Kntctozvii 
Patriot. In 1907, at the request of John 
W. Ranch, then the superintendent, secre- 
tary and treasurer of the Rcadins: Eaglr 
Company, a poem dedicated to the Friends 
of the Reading Shriners, was translated by 
him from the German language into Eng- 
lish. The rythmn is exact and the choice 
of words used shows that he had by that 
time acquired a large working vocabulary 
of the language. The citizens of Kutztown 
entrusted four times in succession the hioh- 
ost office of the borough — that of Chief 
P>urgess — into his care. He showed him- 
self an efficient and active official. 

Mr. Gehring is a man of small stature 
but big brain. When Governor Pattison 
who was a man of large stature, visited 
Kutztown, Mr. Gehring welcomed him in 



a few well chosen words. The address of 
welcome was made on the porch of the 
Keystone Hotel. The tall and straight 
form of the governor, as he stood in front 
of our Mr. Gehring, who was almost a 
head shorter than Mr. Pattison, was a scene." 
which has impressed itself very vividly oti 
our mind. 

But the real life of Mr. Gehring, and the 
influence he exerted upon our townspeople 
and vicinity was brought out more especial- 
ly in his utterances in our papers — both 
German and English. He wielded a ready 
pen. There was absolutel}' no tendency 
towards sensationalism. Under his man- 
agement the columns of the Journal and 
Patriot were always clean. 

His friendship, opinion and counsel have 
always been highly valued. In every sub- 
stantial improvement he was ever an 
earnest promoter. At social gatherings he 
was always in his happiest of moods and 
was much in demand. Likewise, as a 
churchman he was ecjually prominent. He 
was a very active member of St. Paul's 
Reformed church. He was a leader in the 
Sunday School, a member of the Consis- 
tory and an active promoter of all socie- 
ties in the church. He was most valuable 
in all directions. When he bade Kutztown 
g'ood-bye, the to^vn felt as though one of 
her staunchest friends was about to leave. 

Mr. Gehring will always be most pleas- 
antly rem'embered by all who were brought 
into contact with him. 

Printers Turned Out 

Among the many good boys who started 
their careers in the Kutztown printing office 
and subsequently became of the salt of the 
earth, doing well in their respective chosen 
fields, we mention the following: 

Jacob Spohn, now a member of the firm 
of Lins and Spohn, job printers, of Read- 
ing. 

Lewis Marx, who left for Wyoming, 
where his brother had become a State 
Senator. 

Martin O. Good, already mentioned as an 
expert linotype operator, who was sent out 
b>' the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, 
wherever it introduced machines, to teach 
the printers the secrets of the new machines. 
He is still one of the most progressive mem- 
bers of the craft and one of the highest 
]\Iasons in the State of New York. 

Oliver S. Henninger, deceased, who be- 
came a famous editor and orator, of Allen- 
town. 

J. B. Esser, who became owner of the 
i:)lant in which he learned his trade, a prom- 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



129 



inent factor in Berks county politics and 
Clerk of Quarter Sessions of his county. 

A. F. DeLong, foreman of the press room 
department of the Kutztown Publishing 
Company's plant. 

C. E. Gehring, who became known as one 
of the expert linotype operators in New 
York, established a linotype school and 
then entering politics, became Wm. Ran- 
dolph Hearst's first lieutenant. He held the 
office of deputy county clerk of the county 
of New York, and at the expiration of that 
term was made superintendent of records. 
He is now the publisher of the New York 
Hotel Register and Review. 

Wm. G. Kern, of Saratoga Springs, N. 
Y., an experienced linotype operator and 
publisher of directories. 

Jacob C. Hoch, still prominent school 
teacher of Maxatawny, with his residence 
in Kutztown. 

E. M. Angstadt, the first linotype opera- 
tor in the Patriot office and still operates 
the machine satisfactorily. 

Ed. Eshelman, an expert linotpye opera- 
tor in New York and noted for his speed 
and accuracy. 



John D. Wink, who as teacher and print- 
er is at present employed by the Kutztown 
Publishing Company. 

Charles Berkemeyer, who made the Beth- 
lehem Star shine as a star of the first magni- 
tude and still is active in the newspaper 
world of Allentown and in the political cir- 
cles of that city. 

Robert Berkemeyer, who cut his path 
to fame as a Bethlehem hotelkeeper and 
then allied himself with the Schwab inter- 
ests. 

Henry H. Bieber, who at the completion 
of his apprenticeship opened a job printing 
office here in Reading, which he is still con- 
ducting and where he is turning out good 
work. 

Thomas S. Sharadin, a job printer, who 
is assisting the Reading Eagle Company 
and the Kutztown Publishing Compan3' 
during the busy seasons. 

James O'Neil learned his trade here and 
is now employed by the Kutztown Publish- 
ing Company. 

The present force of the Kutztown Pub- 
lishing Company numbers fourteen. 




Articles of the Homr One Hundred Ye.\rs Ago 



I30 



CEXTEXNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



INDUSTRIES, OLD AND NEW 



A few locations in our borougli liave been 
well-known business places almost from the 
beginning. One of the oldest established 
places is that of William S. Christ, known 
for many years as Bieber"s Store, situated 
on ]\Iain street, about one-half block from 
Greenwich street. In the long, long ago, 
a Mr. Wilson had a drygoods store at this 
place. Next came a candy store under the 
management of Samuel Bast. This was 
followed by another effort at a drygoods 
store in the hands of Reuben Bast, only to 
be followed again by a candy store. 

Later on the propert}' was bought by 
Joshua S. Bieber, who was married to a 
sister of Mr. Bast. From that time on 
to the present time it continued as a dry- 
goods and general merchandise store. At 
the death of Mr. Bieber, the property went 
over to his son, W'alt. B., who successfully 
carried on the same line of business until 
the day of his death in 1910. The property 
then went into the hands by jnu'chase of 
Solon A. Stein, who conducted the busi- 
ness for a short time when the property 
again exchanged hands. Dr. George Stim- 
mel buying the property and rented the 
store room to William S Christ, the present 
proprietor. The old building was torn down 
and the present large brick structure erect- 
ed by Dr. Stimmel. 

During Joshua S. Beiber's time a whole- 
sale liquor store was also established at the 
same place and was continued by his son, 
Walt. B., and Solon A. Stein, — ^Alr. Stein 
having given over this business to his cous- 
in, Byron A. Stein. It was discontinued a 
few years ago. 

Shankweiler's store is another location 
where for many years the drygoods busi- 
ness was carried on. Simon Arnold handled 
the yard stick at this place many years ago ; 
from him the business passed over in suc- 
cession to David Fisher, then Helfrich and 
Fisher, — the firm consisting of Charles H. 
Helfrich, Lewis S., and Frank Fisher. Then 
the property was bought by Joshua G. Hint- 
erleiter and he and his son, William G., 
carried on the business until the death of 
the father, from which time it was con- 
ducted by his son, William G., until his 
death in 1904. The widow of Mr. Hinter- 
leiter rented the store-room then to J. V. 
Shankweiler and his sons, H. O., and E 
H. These continued in the partnership 
business until Feb. i, 1907, when the three 
brothers H. O., E. H., and J. S. Shank- 
weiler continued its management. On the 



1st of Feb. 1909, the brother, H. O., retired 
from the firm and since that time to the 
present, the two remaining brothers, E. H., 
and J. S., constitute the firm. 

The corner of Main and White Oak 
streets, in the center of town, is another 
old stand for business. Here we find that 
in the long ago, Jacob Sunday, and George 
Y. Kemp, conducted a business for a num- 
ber of years, .\fter them came Charles 
Lesher, and Richard Dunkel ; they were fol- 
lowed by Richard Dunkel, and John S. 
Dunkel. Later on Richard left the firm and 
John S. conducted the business alone. He 
sold out to Valerius S. Reinhard, who after 
having managed it alone for some years, 
took in as partner, Bartolet Reinhart. From 
this party it passed into the hands of Sam- 
uel Rahn. Then came James E. Alerkle, 
and Solomon Y. Peters. Then we find 
Harry H. Ahrens holding forth. Next 
comes Harvey O. Dietrich. At this point 
the business was discontinued for some 
years, when lulius liram and Jacob S. 
Kemp launched out in the delicatessen and 
caterer business for a while. At the pres- 
ent time John F. Angstadt conducts a groc- 
ery store at this place. The building was 
remodeled during the early part of the 
present year and is well adapted for a 
business place. 

Another location where our people could 
buy their dry goods and groceries for many 
\'ears, is the northwest corner of ilain and 
White Oak streets. The first proprietors of 
a store at this corner were William Heiden- 
reich, and Daniel B. Kutz. They were 
brothers-in-law, Mr. Heidenreich having 
married Louisa, a daughter of Dewalt and 
Elizabeth (Sassaman) Bieber. About the 
year iS.^S thev went out of business and 
were followed by Lewis Hoflfman. After 
Mr. Hoffman came Egedius Butz, the fath- 
er of our worthy and venerable townsman, 
Lewis Butz. Simpson Schmehl and Na- 
than Zimmerman formed the next business 
firm of this corner. Then followed Lewi* 
,\. Stein, and William B. Stein ; after a 
short time Mr. Lewis A. retired, leavino- the 
business in the hands of William B. Stein, 
who added a wholesale liquor store to the 
business. Oscar Merkel took the store froui 
the hands of Mr. Stein and continued it for 
some years. At the oresent time the cous- 
ins. Richard, and Francis Sharadin, hold 
the niace under the firm name of Sharadin 
and Sharadin. 

The corner of ^Main and Greenwich 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



13' 



streets has likewise since 1875 become a 
business centre. It was here where Mr. 
Mihon T. Donmoyer, who had been in the 
saddlery and harness business since 1869, 
settled himself in 1875. It had been the 
property of Col. Daniel Levan. Mr. Don- 
moyer secured it and conducted the harness 
business until early in the go's. He was 
succeeded by f. M. Wolf, who was followed 
by Stephen Keinert. Mr. Keinert bought 
the property. He continued in the harness 
business until 191,^ when he sold the build- 
ing tothe Saul Brothers. Mr. Keinert trans- 
ferred his saddlery to his new home erecteci 
on the rear of the same lot which he re- 
tained, fronting on Greenwich street. Mr. 
Keinert still continues in business in his 
new place. The Saul Brothers' building is 
now occupied by the Kutztown post office. 

In the early days all the stores were 
open on Sunday. People came to church 
bringing their produce, which they would 
leave, with orders for what they desired 
The orders were filled while the country 
folk attended church. These folks often 
came in their shirt sleeves. Devout in 
church, men entering the pew. would stand 
and pray into their hats. The same cus ■ 
torn prevailed even among ministers ; we 
remember a highly respected pastor of a 
large parish, the father of two sons, also 
in the ministr_v and later receiving the title 
of D. D., who would enter the chancel, take 
off his hat, and in front of the altar, hold 
a minutes' devotion, holding his hat in 
front so as to pray into it. 

After the services were over, the church 
people returned to their homes, first stop- 
ping at the store for their goods. 

Hat Making 
Charles W. Esser, a native of Maxatawny 
township, father of Jacob B. Esser and 
grandfather of Charles H. Esser, member _ 
of the Kutztown Publishing Company start- 
ed hat making in Kutztown. He learned 
the trade of hat making early in life. His 
place of business was located on Main 
street in the building now owned by J. P. 
S. Fenstermacher, the front room serving 
as a salesroom for the stock manufactured 
in the shop to the rear. He died in 1863, 
aged fifty years. 

Hardware 

At first all the general stores kept a 
supply of hardware along with their other 
goods. As the town increased in size and 
the demand for hardware became greater, 
stores were established, where the business 
was almost exclusively confined to the hard- 
ware trade. 

The first man who conducted a regular 



hardware store was Simpson S. Schmehl. 
He had his store where the barber, Wm. 
Livingood, now holds forth. This was in 
the 70's. x\fter him we have N. S. Schmehl 
who bought out his Uncle Simpson, 

In 1888 Zach Y. Miller started a hard- 
ware store where N; S. Schmehl had been 
up to this time, Mr. Schmehl having moved 
his store to its present quarters. 

On Nov. I, 1892, E. P. DeTurk bought 
out Zach Y. Miller and in 1903-04 erected 
the large building on Main street where 
he has successfully conducted the business 
ever since. 

Undertaking Business 

During and before the Civil War there 
were two parties who conducted the under- 
taking business. The one was Paul Hilbert, 
and the other Daniel Gehret. The Hilbert 
establishment was located on Noble street. 
After some years Mr. Hilbert retired. 

Daniel Gehret established himself on 
Main street where the Boston Grocery Store 
now is. In 1867 he turned the business 
over to his son, William, who continued 
until 1902 — a period of 35 years — when fail- 
ing health comoelled him to retire. 

For a while David Sharadin started un 
in this business on Lower Main street ; this 
was in the 80's. 

In IQ02, after the retirement of Mr. Gehr- 
et, y. H. Stump began business on Lower 
Main street and has continued ever since. 

William Fritz has conducted a similar 
business for the last one and one-half years 
on Lower Main street. 

Drug Business 

Late in the 70's, Tacob Breininger opened 
a drug store on Main street where John 
Kohler's lot is, in a one story building ; later 
he procured quarters in the Snvder build- 
ing, now the property of the Snvder Es- 
tate. Here he continued until his death. 
The business was then carried on by his 
brother, Toe, and still later, for a short timt 
by the widow of Jacob Breininger, when it 
was discontinued. 

About this time another drug store was 
started bv Dr. Berkemyer, across the way 
from Breinineer's, in the building then own- 
ed by Dr. T- S. Trexl'-r. This was in the 8o's 
Dr. Berkemyer movins" to Allentown, sold 
his interests to the Whittiker Bros., who in 
turn sold it to Dr. Trexler. In 18S7 it 
passed into the hands of the present pro- 
prietor. Dr. E. J. Sellers. 

Tanneries 

In the lower oart of the borough a tan- 
nery was operated for a number of years, 



132 



CENTENXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



with success, by Nathan Levan, who was 
also a currier by trade. It was removed 
about twenty-five years ago. 

From 1870, for some thirty years, J. D. 
Sharadin conducted the Silver Spring Tan- 
nery. It consisted of a main building, 
thirty-three by seventy- two feet, two stories 
high, with an extension thirty by thirty 
feet. The power was furnished by a ten 
horse-power engine. The product was 
chiefly oak-tanned harness-leather, although 
kipp and calf-skins were also prepared 
The site of this building is now occupied 
by the Kutztown Motor Car Company and 
J. S. Knittle, dealer in agricultural imple- 
ments. 

Kutztown Furnace 
Kutztown Furnace was erected by the 
Kutztown Iron Company which was incor- 
porated in 1872. Most of the stockholders 
lived in Kutztown and vicinity, although 
some persons from abroad were interested. 
A tract of five acres of land was secured 
from the D. S. Kutz farm, near the bor- 
ough, and thereon the furnace was built in 
1873, the first ground having been dug July 
2d, by Henry Boyer. The contractors were 
Lee, Noble, and Company. The furnace 
was first operated under a lease by Charles 
H. Nimson and Company, with Henry C. 
Cooper as manager. In the course of a 
few years the furnace became the proDerty 
of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and 
Iron Company, who leased it to different 
parties. William M. Kauffman and Com- 
pany have been the most successful opera- 
tors. In July, 1883, the boiler of the fur- 
nace exploded upsetting the smoke stack, 
which fell across the casting house and de- 
molished it. Several workmen were fatally 
injured. Since that time the property has 
lain in ruins. The capacity of the furnace 
was nearly two hundred tons per week. 

Kutztown Brick Yards 
John H. Mohr and William Weaver each 
had large and well-appointed brick yards, 
just outside the limits of the borough, which 
gave employment to a large number of 
hands. 

Keiser and Miller are the present lessees 
of the Kutztown Brick Yards, owned bv 
Wm. F. Stimmel. This plant is one of the 
finest equipped in the state. The operations 
are conducted b}^ steam power throughout. 
The bricks are steam dried, thus enabling 
the work to run the entire year. The pro- 
prietors, who also operate a plant at Top- 
ton, are running their industries to their ut- 
most capacity. Thev took possession in 
the spring of 1915 and employ sixteen men. 
The daily output is 16,500 bricks Thev 



make only the common bricks. The com- 
pany ships the product of their plants to 
Reading and Allentown and sujiply the 
local demand. 

Cigar Industries 

In the borough the manufacture of cigars 
was carried on by Fritch and Merker, Har- 
vey Bast and C. W. Keiter, the latter em- 
ployed sixteen hands. 

The cigar industry of Kutztown is taken 
care of by four concerns, namely : J. B^ Kei- 
ter, O. R. Keiter, Ed. L. Schatzlein and S. 
Dries. J. B. Keiter has the largest plant, lo- 
cated on Noble street, and employs about five 
men. His product, such as "Ten Inches for 
S Cents" are well known to many. Ed. L. 
Schatzlein, the maker of the popular cigar, 
"Smokers Inn" has been in the tobacco 
business for many years. The past year he 
confined himself entirely to the vholesak 
trade. S. J. Dries, a veteran cigar maker 
but a new manufacturer, will no doubt make 
a success. He is located on Upper Main 
street. O. R. Keiter's factory is located on 
Walnut street, and his "Durham" brand is 
very popular. 

Hosiery Mill 
Eck's Hosiery Factory was established 
in the fall of 1882 by J. L. Eck. He began 
operation with three machines, and steadily 
increased his business, until there were thir- 
ty weaving and knitting machines in the 
factory. A new building was fitted up in 
1884, with steam for motive power. The 
operatives were girls and boys and the pro- 
ducts were plain and fancy hose, chiefly for 
women and children. About three hundred 
dozen pairs were manufactured weekly. 

Lime and Crushed Stone 
Lime was manufactured extensively by 
John D. Deisher, Neff Bros., Lewis Brown, 
A. W. Fritch and William Wessner. The 
first named had a dozen kilns. This busi- 
ness afforded occupation for a large num- 
ber of men. 

Dr. U. S. G. Bieber. veterinarian and an 
extensive builder of homes is conducting 
two stone crushing and hydrated lime plants, 
one in Kutztown and the other at Mburtis, 
employing upwards of 25 men. Dr. Bieber 
finds a ready market for his products. 

Martin Koller is the proprietor of a lime 
and crushed stone plant near Kutztown. 
Mr. Koller employs a number of men the 
entire year. 

Milk Depot and Creamery 
Many farmers bring their milk daily to 
a depot operated by L. G. Balzreit, of Phila- 
delphia, and managed by Mr. Musselman, 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



133 



who only a few weeks ago moved to Kutz- 
town from Lititz. Most of the milk is 
separated and both cream and milk is ship- 
ped daily to Philadelphia where it 13 bottle 1 
and sold to the general public. They ship 
daily thirty-five to forty 40-quart cans of 
milk and two cans of cream. Mr. Balzreit 
is conducting several other stations in this 
vicinity. 

An association with forty-nine members 
was organized in the spring of 1881 for 
the manufacture of butter and cheese, and 
on the following summer a fine two-story 
brick building (thirty-four by forty- four 
feet) was put up, and the other necessary 
buildings provided to carry on the business. 
The entire outlay was about four thousand 
dollars. In 1885 William S. Kutz was 
president; David S. Schaeffer, treasurer, 
and Jonathan Biehl, secretary. 

Pipe Organs 
One of the first industries of the place, 
aside from the ordinary mechanic pursuits, 
was the building of pipe organs by the 
Openheimer Brothers, who moved to Read- 
ing where they followed the same occupa- 
tion. 

Marble and Granite Works 
Prior to the year 1855, Charles Sharadin 
conducted a stone cutting establishment in 
Kutztown. This establishment never grew 
beyond the needs of the immediate commu- 
nity. 

About the year 1855, a German stone 
cutter came to Kutztown and started the 
stone cutting business on a small scale. 
This was Philip Wenz. He was the father 
of the Wenz brothers. The father retired 
in 1895 and gave the business over to his 
sons, who carried it on under the firm name 
of Wenz Bros. 

The plant, situated on Greenwich street, 
grew year after year; additional ma- 
chiner}' of the most modern type was in- 
stalled until it had grown to such propor- 
tions that it competed favorably with any 
marble yard in the State. Soon the plant 
became known far and wide. There is 
hardly a cemetery to be found in eastern 
Pennsylvania where their work in the shape 
of tombstones, beautiful and imposing 
monuments, vaults or mausoleums are not 
to be found. The firm extended their 
business year after year and in 191 2 felt 
themselves obliged to seek larger space for 
the growing industry. Kutztown not of- 
fering a site sufficiently large, they felt 
themselves constrained to move to Allen- 
town, which they did on July i, 1913. 
When they left Kutztown they employed 
about 50 men, all told. 



The company was entirely reorganized 
and the work begun at Allentown. The 
present officers are : Wm. Wenz, president ; 
T. E. Hensinger, secretary and treasurer. 
Directors, William Wenz, T. E. Hensinger, 
J. D. Wenz, J. Lawrence Rupp, Esq., C. L. 
Hollenbach, E. S. Eberts, and Harvey Bas- 
com. 

Geo. W. Ramer, the owner of a marble 
and granite works on Greenwich street, 
Kutztown, started out on a very small scale 
in 1905. He was the only workman at first 
but his business grew to such an extent that 
today he employs eight people and has in- 
stalled a steam plant and the latest machin- 
ery. He has turned out some very fine 
tombstones and monuments, which can be 
seen in the Kutztown cemeteries and the 
burial grounds of many other places. 

Kutztown Bottling Works 

The Kutztown Bottling Works has been 
in existence for about 30 years. It was 
started by Ed. Immel and carried on succes- 
sively by C. J. Rhode and Charles H. Rhode, 
and C. J. Rhode and Son (John W.) 
Harry Sharadin bought the business from 
that firm and after conducting it for four 
years sold out in 1908 to J. P. Dreibelbis, 
who is the present proprietor. The business 
has grown considerably and Mr. Dreibelbis 
with the aid of a Mack Truck covers quite 
a territory. He makes all kinds of bottled 
drinks and also bottles Barbey's beer. His 
product can be seen at almost every hotel 
and restaurant in Berks and Lehigh coun- 
ties. 

The Shirt Factory 

The Kutztown shirt factory is located in 
the building on White Oak street which 
was for years the public school of Kutz- 
town. The first proprietor was C. U. Bens- 
ing, formerly of Kutztown, who started in 
1897 and after being in business six months 
sold out to Daniel Sharadin, who d-nducted 
the same from 1897 to 1900 and in turn 
sold the business to his son, Francis E. He 
conducted the business successfully for nine 
years and then sold out Nov. 16, 1909, to 
S. Leibovitz and Son. 

S. Leibovitz and Son have theii general 
office in New York City, 75 Leonard street. 
They are classed as one of the largest man- 
ufacturers of shirts in the country, being 
proprietors of 65 factories, located in Penn- 
sylvania, New York, Delaware, as far south 
as South Carolina. Forty-one hands are 
employed here and their output is about 
350 dozen shirts per week. Their product 
is sold to wholesalers. 

Mrs. A, H. Fritch is the general manager. 



134 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVN 



KuTZTOWN Foundry and Machine 
Company, Inc. 

The Kutztovvn Foundry is our largest 
enterprise and is in a prosperous condition. 
I'he business was organized b\- Chas. G. 
and Fred. S. Zehm, wno came to this coun- 
tr}' from Herzberg, Germany. They locat- 
ed at Reading, but being desirous of get- 
ting into business for themselves, came to 
Kutztown in 1866 and started business in 
the old Kutztown Foundry and Aiachine 
Company's shops, located on Kutz's Alle}-, 
near the centre of the town, where the 
livery stable now stands. 

In 1869 they bought three acres of ground 
near the railroad station and that was the 
beginning of the present shops. The busi- 
ness was run as Zehm & Brother until April 
I, 1896, when Chas. G. Zehm retired. It 
was then run as Zehm and Company until 
Oct. 15, 1896, when it was incorporated 
into the Kutztown Foundry and ^Machine 
Company. 

This JDusiness has had a steady growth 
from one employing half a dozen men until 
now about 200 men are employed, with 
buildings covering approximately 80,000 
square feet. The officers are : G. T. 
Schnatz, President, Philadelphia; Chas. 
Edgerton, \'ice President, Philadelphia ; 
Irvin Bair, Secretary, Philadelphia; Arthur 
Bonner, Treasurer and Superintendent ot 
Works, Kutztown ; Philadelphia Office, 800 
Morris Building, 142 1 Chestnut street. 

The company had a disastrous fire on 
Dec. 8, 1898, destroying part of main shop, 
office and most all the patterns, after which 
all buildings were built one story. When 
enlarging the shop later on it was found 
necessary to have more ground, and the 
company purchased the farm of the late 
Rev. B. E. Kramlich. 

They manufacture a general line of med- 
ium size castings, and of late have made 
some very large ones. They make a spec- 
■ ialty of garbage work, sometimes furnish- 
ing roller presses and parts, and other times 
have contracted complete plants. They en- 
gineered and built complete plants at Co- 
lumbus and St. Louis. Roller presses have 
been sold in a number of States and in 
South America. Another snecialty is eva- 
porators. Recent orders filled cover all 
sizes UP to i^ feet inside diameter, which 
had to be made in sections for handling and 
shipping. Shipments of evaporators have 
been made to a number of different States, 
Cuba, and Europe. 

Fred S. Zehm was born in Plerzberg, 
Germany. Feb. 2. 18^(1, educated and learn- 
ed machinist trade there, came to Reading 
fune g, 185,^. worked at John Noble's Ma- 



chine Shop, then at Addison and Mellert's 
Machine Shop, then Franklin Iron Works. 
Chas. G. Zehm came to Reading in 1854. 
Both came to Kutztown in 1866. Bought 
ground at railroad in 1869. 

Isaac and John F. Wentzel operated a 
machine shop in town for a number of 
years. They were in business in Leesport 
before coming here, starting there in 1854, 
and on August 3, 1868, came to Kutztown. 
Isaac Wentzel was then steward at the 
Normal School for several years and John 
F. Wentzel was his assistant. In a few 
years they started in the machine business 
in the old foundry building where the livery 
stable now stands. In 1872 they moved 
down to a building adjoining Zehm Bros', 
shops, near the railroad. They worked here 
for several years until the building was 
destroyed by fire. From there they moved 
up-town to a shop in the rear of Richard 
Miller, Sr., coachmaker's shop and remain- 
ed there about one year. 

They then moved to Jacob Sanders' 
coachmakers shop on Walnut street, which 
I^ropert}- is now owned by Jacob Kemjj, and 
remained there about three years. From 
there they moved down town to a new shop 
the}' built, where John F. Wentzel now 
lives. Two years later they built an addi- 
iton in the rear for a dwelling. 

Henry Biehl built the present paper box 
factory, expecting to start his son in it, as 
a roller flour mill, but it was never used, 
the son having died at college. The Wentz- 
els occupied this building for a while and 
then sold the business to Kroninger Bros., 
who also built and sold implements and 
wagons. Later on they sold out to Abram 
Zimmerman. 

After this the building stood idle for 
some time, but later on the Saucony Shoe 
Company was started and occupied the 
place until thev built their present brick 
factory on Hefifner street. 

Chas. L. Ahn started up a paper box 
factory in the Biehl building, and later on 
sold out to U. B. Ketner who now runs it. 

Carriage Industry 

The carriage industry of Kutztown is al- 
most as old as the town itself. .\t diflferent 
times various parties had opened establish- 
ments of this kind with varied success. 
.\mong them we might note Jacob Sanders, 
who for awhile had his works on Walnut 
street, Charles Hefifner on White Oak, Wil- 
liam Albright on Noble, William Smith on 
Greenwich, and Sanders and Wagner on 
Main street, just across the Saucony where 
the Zehm property now owned by Dr. L'. 
S. G. Bieber is located. All these have 
passed away. The one that has continued 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



135 



success full)' for 75 years is the present well 
known carriage factory of R. IViiller's Son, 
managed by our enterprising townsman, 
Chas. W. Miller. 

The carriage business under the linn 
name of R.. Miller's Son, of which Chas. 
W. Miller is the sole owner, was started 
many years ago by his father, the late Rich- 
ard Voung Miller. He was a native of 
Lancaster County, born in East Cocalico 
Township, where he spent the earl}' days 
of his life. He assisted his uncle on the 
farm at Muddy Creek Church until he ar- 
rived at the age when the matter of learn- 
ing a trade was taken up with his mother, 
and they concluded that he was well fitted 
for a carriage wood worker. He found a 
place in a town in Lebanon County where 
carriage building at that time was carried 
on Cjuite extensively, building principally 
six post rockaways and the famous old 
carry-all. They were all built at that time 
with a drop wooden axle. Some of the 
rockawa3's of that time were built with 
sword cases in the rear of the seat for 
the storage of weapons. At that period 
the men were obliged to cut their own 
lumber in the woods, splitting spokes for 
light and heavy work and selecting such 
logs for lumber as were suitable for the 
construction of the vehicles they were 
building. The spokes were all manufac^ 
tured on the hand lathe, and the rims for 
the wheels were all cut with the hand whip- 
saw from planks. Before the time Mr. Mil- 
ler became an apprentice it was the cus- 
tom to round out the rims with an 
adz, and the mechanics were well exper- 
ienced in doing that kind of work. In a 
blacksmith shop all the different accessor- 
ies that go into the assembling of a run- 
ning part, as bolts, clips, nuts, fifth wheels, 
shaft schackles, springs, etc., had to be 
forged by hand, as no finished work of 
this kind could be had. In the trim room 
all the stitching was done by hand, sewing- 
machines being unknown. J\Ir. Miller 
served an apprenticeship of four years, after 
which he was employed by Mr. Elatt of 
Third Street, Reading, Pa. However, he 
was not so well satisfied with the position 
at Reading. He happened to become ac- 
quainted with Mr. Isaac Strasser, a young- 
man of Kutztown, and he concluded upon 
the request of Mr. Strasser to seek his for- 
tune in our good old town. He found em- 
ployment with Mr. Sigman, who started 
business about the year 1837, the carriage 
and repair shop being located on the lot 
now occupied by the Farmers' Bank, Mr. 
Schlenker's Store and Mr. Christ's Book 
Store. Verv little new work was done at 



the time with the exception of a few rock- 
aways, and quite a number of the old fash- 
ioned square box sleighs, of which Mr. Mil- 
ler would complete one every day, working 
froni five o'clock in the morning till nme 
o'clock at night, and by so doing he could 
earn about nme dollars a week. Kutztown 
being the stopping place for the stage line 
between Reading and Allentown, daily re- 
pairs to these coaches brought in quite a 
nice revenue in the carriage business. 

Mr. Sigman's health became impaired 
and he died soon after Mr. Miller had found 
employment with him. While being em- 
ployed at this place Mr. ]\Iiller became ac- 
quainted with Catharine Bast, a daughter 
of Samuel Bast, whom he married in the 
year 1840. After his marriage he con- 
tinued business at the old place, but finally 
concluded to make his home at Reamstown, 
Lancaster county. The place however, not 
being congenial to his wife he remained 
there but a few months and moved back to 
Kutztown in the month of March the fol- 
lowing year when he started in business 
again for himself, his capital being limited 
to the sum of $7.50 when he made another 
start in life. When the old building was 
demolished he bought the property, an old 
log and frame building, located on Main 
street and Sander Alley, the property be- 
longing to the old Christian Copp estate, 
where the business has been carried on to 
the present time by himself and later, by 
his sons and for the last thirty-five year's 
by his son, C. W. Miller, the present own- 
er. In the year 1850 he was also running 
a blacksmith shop for horse shoeing and 
general repair work in connection with his 
carriage business. This shop was located 
next to the building of the late Dr. J. S. 
Trexler, on the lot now occupied bv the 
Elmer J. Sellers Drug Store. The build- 
ing was made of logs and was a genuine 
village smithy. 

Having had a desire to extend his busi- 
ness he entered into a partnership with Mr. 
Charles Wink on January 29, 1848, for the 
sale of improved straw cutters, patented by 
Daniel Sechler, of Wooster, Ohio, having 
all of Berks county as their territorv, in- 
cluding the city of Reading, but this "busi- 
ness did not turn out very satisfactorily and 
the firm dissolved partnership. In the year 
1850 he entered into partnership with Mr. 
Emanuel Reider. This partnership con- 
tinued only two years when it also was dis- 
solved, and from that time on he personally 
conducted the carriage business and re- 
mained the sole owner until 1870 when he 
took his son, C. W., as a partner. In 1873 
his son Zacharias, now of Monowi, Ne- 



136 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



braska, entered into partnership and re- 
mained a member of the firm until the year 
1876 when he sold his interest to the pres- 
ent owner. After disposing of his share 
Zacharias moved with his family to a farm 
in Warren County, Indiana. 

This carriage factory has the unique dis- 
tinction of being the only firm in Kutztown 
that has been in business for seventy-five 
years in one name. 

Dery Silk Mill 

D. G. Dery, manufacturer of .-ilks, of 
Catasauqua, bought the Kutztown mill and 
took possession on January 22, 1912. Chas. 
W. Moyer, formerly of AUentown, is the 
superintendent. Ninety-two hands are em- 
ployed and arrangements have been made 
to double the product of this industry 
which means an addition to the present 
mill. 

Mr. Dery is the largest individual pro- 
ducer of silk in America or in the world. 
He is the operator of sixteen plants of 
which fifteen are located in Pennsylvania 
and one in Massachusetts. His general of- 
fices are located in the AUentown National 
Bank Building at AUentown, Pa., and the 
salesrooms at 381-385 Fourth Avenae, New 
York City. 

Mr. Dery has on his payroll 3284 people 
in Pennsylvania and 350 in Massachusetts, 
a total of 3934, who earn annually in wages 
almost $1,700,000. The output of his plants 
is 12,500,000 yards annually, valued at seven 
and a half million dollars. 

As a business man Mr. Dery has a noble 
record. His work shows that he i''^ a busi- 
ness man of the first magnitude. He is a 
good example of what a man can accom- 
plish by the exercise of talent and industry, 
and has risen to the distinction of having the 
greatest silk organization ever perfected by 
any one man. 

A little more than a quarter of a century 
ago Mr. Dery, a college graduate, and 
trained in the best weaving schools of 
the Eastern World, began his business car- 
eer in the United States. He had acquired 
a thorough knowledge of silk weaving and 
all the attendant details of silk manufacture 
in Europe, and with this as his chief capital 
at the beginning he has risen to a height 
in the silk manufacturing world that he 
then little dreamed of. 

His career in this work furnishes one of 
the most striking illustrations of the suc- 
cess that can be attained by a right-minded, 
clean-living, ambitious young man, with a 
definite view in life. Beginning as a super- 
intendent, Mr. Dery in a few years became 
a manufacturer, added mill after mill in 



different localities, until today he is the 
largest individual silk manufacturer in the 
world. 

Saucony Shoe Manufacturing 
Company, Inc. 

In April, 1898, a co-partnership was 
formed by Walter C. C. Snyder, Wm. A. 
Donmoyer, T. S. Levan, and B. F. Reider, 
Sr., under the firm name of Saucony Shoe 
Co. The plant began operations in the 
building owned by Mrs. Hannah Biehl and 
now occupied by U. B. Ketner's Paper Box 
Manufacturing Company. The business 
was carried on until January, 1902, when 
it was deemed necessary by the co-partners 
to form a corporation in order to continue 
and increase the business. An application 
was made and a charter granted on Janu- 
ary 21, 1902. 

John R. Gonser was elected the first 
president, which office he is still filling 
The firm continued to transact business in 
the Biehl building until February, 1906, 
when larger quarters were imperative. On 
January 19, 1905, building operations were 
started on the present company's new fac- 
tory building, located on Heffner street. 
In February, 1906, the firm took possession 
of the new plant and added more modern 
machinery and merchandise to their equip- 
ment. The Saucony Shoe Manufacturing 
Company are manufacturers of infants' and 
children's turn shoes and sandals. The ca- 
pacity of the plant is 250,000 pairs of shoes 
annually. The firm employs ninety hands 
and the pay roll is $5000.00 per month. 

The present officers are : John R. Gonser, 
president ; M. T. Donmoyer vice-president ; 
T. S. Levan, treasurer; W. C. C. Snyder, 
secretary, and C. S. Siegfried, general man- 
ager. 

The present directors are: M. T. Don- 
moyer, John R. Gonser, W. C. C. Snvder, 
U. S. G. Bieber, T. S. Levan, Samuel H. 
Heffner, and Chas. D. Herman. 



Deisher Knitting Mills 
About 1884 a hosiery mill was started by 
J. L. Eck on the second floor of the Red 
Front Millinery store, now occupied by I. 
B. Stein & Son's liquor store. 

A few years later a barn in the rear and 
across the alley was fitted out for a knit- 
ting mill, and underwear machinery was 
installed. The ribbed underwear business 
was in its infancy at this time. 

April I, iSgo', H. K. Deisher left the 
emolovment of W. G. Hinterleiter as clerk 
and joined Eck as partner. This partnership 
was dissolved October 1892, H. K. Deisher 
succeeding and the mill was moved to its 



CENTENNIAL lllSTORV OF KUTZTOWN 



137 



present location on Noble street, which 
building had been occupied as a creamery 
since 1881. 

In igoo the entire building was raised 
three feet from its fovuidation and another 
story added. Annexes were built in 1003 
and 1907. 

Deisher Knitting Mills was incorporated 
May I, 1913- This industry has always 
furnished employment to about fiftv hands 
and the merchandise has made itself a 
reputation in the retail trade. 

Keystone Shoe Manufacturing 
Company, Inc. 

Out of the firm name Levan, Stein, L,entz 
& Company, grew the Keystone Shoe Man- 
ufacturing Company of Kutztown. This 
concern started business on January 15, 
1884, in a building on Sander alley, for 
some years occupied by the Kutztown 
Bottling Works and later turned into pri- 
vate dwellings. The company manufac- 
tured ladies', misses", and children's shoes. 
In 1885 the name was changed to I^evan, 
Stein & Company, with offices and sales- 
rooms in Trexler Block. They did a job- 
bing business at that time. 

In 1887 the name was changed to the 
Keystone Shoe Manufacturing Company, 
with an office at loi Main street, Kutztown. 
The company was composed of the follow- 
ing memljers : L. A. Stein, Dr. J. S. Trex- 
ler, Wm. F. Stimmel, and C. W. Miller. 
The present buildings were erected in Octo- 



ber, 1888, and operations in the new ])lant 
began February 25, 1889. 

On November 14, 1900, L. A. Stein be- 
came the sole owner of the plant. 

On June 7, 1910, the company was incor- 
jjorated, and on September 18, 191 1, was 
reorganized. The present officers are : John 
R. Gonser, president; C. J. Rhode, vice- 
president; Philip D. Hoch, treasurer; O. 
Raymond Grimley, secretary, and C. S. 
Siegfried, superintendent. 

They manufacture children's, misses', 
and growing girls' Goodyear welts. The 
output is approximately 200,000 pairs an- 
nually. The employees number 150. Pay- 
roll, $7000.00 per month. The goods are 
sold exclusively to jobbers and wholesalers. 

The directors are : Wilson P. Krum, 
Phaon S. Heffner, R. H. Angstadt, John R. 
Gonser, N. S. Schmehl, Philip D. Hoch, 
John Hunsicker, C. S. Siegfried, Wm. T. 
Breinig, C. J. Rhode, and .J. B. Esser. 

Paper Box Factory 
U. B. Ketner started in business Dec. 
3, 1906, in what was formerly the Saucony 
Shoe Manufacturing Building. He equip- 
ped it with a new steam plant and all 
modern machinery. He manufactures box- 
es of all sizes and descriptions, sapplying 
manufacturers of Kutztown, Topton, Lyons, 
Trexlertown, Reading, Allentown, Macun- 
gie and Bath. 

He has ten hands employed. His output 
in a year is at least 560,000 boxes. He has 
built up an extensive trade. 




138 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



KUTZTOWN'S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS 



KuTZTowN National Bank 
The Kutztown National Bank was in- 
corporated Dec. 17, 1897. bmce its incor- 
poration tlie bank has earned 20 good divi- 
dends for its shareholders and accumulated 
a surplus and undivided prohts to the 
amount of over $100,000.00, also d deposit 
list of over half a million dollars, by courte- 
ous and kind treatment to everyone, great 
or small, rich or poor ; straight forward- 
ness in everj'thing, trying to say "no" as 
pleasantly as "yes, presentation of facts in 
soliciting business, in an unobtrusive way, 
not buymg or begging accounts, which is 
contrary to ethics of good banking and lastly 
being" so accommodating that some think 
that IS what the bank stands for, and yet 
allowing no overchecks. 

This institution has not only kept apace 
with the classical little city of Kutztown, 
but it has kept abreast of the progressive 
spirit of the times, by its progressive and 
yet conservative policy and has won the 
confidence of the banking public. Such in- 
stitutions as the Kutztown Nation-il Bank 
are causing the old timers to empty their 
former depositories ( old stockings, tin cans, 
etc. ) and placing them in financial institu- 
tions where they not only know their funds 
are safe, but where the\' can get a small 
rate of interest. 

It is a source of satisfaction to the officers 
and stockholders of this bank to see this 
steady advance in its resources, realizing 
the fact that the public universally appreci- 
ates the facilities and accommodations con- 
sistent with the business principles that this 
institution maintains. 



The Farmers Bank 

The Farmers Bank was chartered June 
15, I'py, and opened for business on Jul\ 
27, it,oy. Ihe capitalization of this in- 
stitution is $50,000.00 and although in busi- 
ness less than in six years it has r^ surplus 
of $30,000.00 and undivided profits of over 
$5000.00. 

This bank started paying interest on tim.^. 
and savings deposits thereby complying with 
the requests of the community ...ml thus 
bringing money back from the cities where 
it had been deposited for years. It also 
made people deposit money that bad been 
lying idle. iSIoney that was hoarded v^'a.s 
again put into circulation and today our 
town, as a banking community, ranks among 
the highest in the state. 

That this institution is enjoying the con- 
fidence of the community may readily be 
seen by its steady growth, both in deposits 
and in the number of customers. In less 
than six years the deposits of this bank 
have increased from $50,000.00 to almost 
$400,000.00 while its depositors have in- 
creased proportionately. 

The bank is well ec[uipped in a'l its de- 
partments, having an immense concrete 
vault, manganese steel safe, and safe de- 
]50sit boxes for the use of its patrons. 
Adequate insurance, increased from time 
to time is carried against burglaries, hold- 
ups, or fire. 

This bank was the first in the county to 
install a modern adding and subtracting 
machine which is used to post the individual 
ledgers and to make out depositors' state- 
ments. 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



139 



BOROUGH IMPROVEMENTS 



The Kutztown Park 
A laro'e park, comprising ten acres, sit- 
uated in the eastern addition to the borough 
along the main thoroughfare to Allentown, 
was estabhshed by a private corpoi-ation in 
1903. Since then it has attracted from 
thirty thousand to fifty thousand vis- 
itors annually. The park is well equipped 
with buildings. In 19 14 a band shell was 
erected. Besides there is a dining room, 
refreshment stand, dancing pavilion, etc. 
The park has been improved by the plant- 
ing of selected shade trees and shrubbery. 
A base ball field is also included in the 
]5ark improvements. 



The Auditorium 
iVn improved and modern amusement- 
l^lace in the form of a theatre was provided 
b_y the Kutztown Auditorium Company in 
1907. A superior brick building was erect- 
ed and equipped at a cost of between $30,- 
000 and $31,000 with a seating capacity of 
one thousand people. There is a com- 
modious stage, suitable scener)', and the 
company has its own electric light plant. 
The theatre part is located on the second 
floor. Besides the theatrical engagements 
it is a popular place for concerts, banquets. 
festivals, etc. The basement is taken up by 
the Kutztown Steam Laundrv. while the 




The Kutztown Auditorium 



Water Supply 

In 1889 the Kutztown Water Compan\- 
was organized and incorporated bv Dr. T- 
S. Trexler, Sell D. Kutz, J. Daniel Sharadin, 
and Peter D. Wanner for supplying Kutz- 
town with water. They established a reser- 
voir on Kutz's Hill, a mile west of the 
town, with a capacity of i.ooD.ooo gallons. 
and put down mains to and through the 
borough. The water was secured from 
springs, from Kemo's Run. and from an 
artesian well, 800 feet deep, with a flowing 
daily capacity of ioo.ood gallons. Dr. Trex- 
ler was president of the company until his 
death in 1902, and Mr. Wanner officiated 
up to his death in 1914. The latter's son. 
John P.. is now at the head of the com- 
pany. 



first floor is equipped with bowling alleys, 
pool tables, and ice cream parlor. 

TROLI.EY IvINES 

A street railway line was opened for 
travel from Kutztown to Allentown in igo2, 
and from that time dwellings began to be 
erected east of the Saucony creek, creating 
a large and valuable addition to the bor- 
ough. In 1903 a trolle}' line was extended 
to the borough from Reading, thereby op- 
ening through travel from Reading to Al- 
lentown. Bethlehem, and Easton. via Kutz- 
town. 

Similar building operations have been 
carried on beyond the western limits of the 
borough, opposite the Keystone State Nor- 
mal School, making that section also very 
fittractive. As elsewhere, the influence of 



140 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



this railway has been felt in the general 
development of the place. A power house 
was established at Kutztown in igo2, and 
this has supplied the power to and from 
Trexlertown and to and from Temple since 
the extension to Reading. 



Streets and Sidewalks 
The principal streets have been macadam- 
ized and upwards of seven miles of cement 
sidewalks have been put down in recent 
years. Efforts are under way for street 
paving. 




Herman's Plav House 



CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS 



Board of Trade 

The Kutztown Board of Trade is an or- 
ganization of progressive citizens, business 
and professional men, whose purpo.3e is, by 
joint and concerted effort, to promote the 
general welfare of the borough, and espec- 
ially to protect, aid, and develop its indus- 
trial, commercial, and business interests. 

It was organized on the loth of January, 
191 5, in the reception room of the Keystone 
House. Regular meetings are held the sec- 
ond Tuesday of each month. The first of- 
ficers were: Cvrus J- Rhode, President; 



A-^ictor H. Hauser, Secretary, and Nathan 
S. Schmehl, Treasurer. 

The following were the charter members : 
Harry H. Ahrens, Llewellyn A. Angstadt, 
Arthur Bonner, Jacob K. Boyer, Dr. U. S. 
G. Bieber, Frank Cadmus, A. S. Christ, 
Rev. J. J. Cressman, Dr. W. W. Deatrick, 
Henry K. Deisher, Walter 8. Dietrich, Dan- 
iel Dries, Jacob B. Esser, EHwood D. Fish- 
er, John Z. Harner, Victor H. Hauser, Al- 
bert S. Heffner, U. B. Ketner, A. K. Lesh- 
er, A. N. Levan, Chas. W .Miller, Fred. 
Moyer, D. Levan Nicks, Nicholas Rahn, 






A. N. I, EVAN. Pres. 



M. K. YOriEK. Sec. 



N. S. SCHMEHL, Treas. 



CENTENXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



141 



Benjamin F. Reider, Cyrus J. Rhode, Tohu 
W. Rhode, Dr. H. W. Saul, John A. 
Schwoyer, Nathan S. Schmehl, Francis 
Sharadin, Howard S. Shaiadin, L. A. Stein, 
and Wm. F. Stimmel. 

Space does not permit to enumerate all 
that the Board of Trade did for Kutztown. 
Below are a few items in which this or- 
ganization was instrumental in getting ac- 
complished : 

Annexing to the borough certain outly- 
ing portions adjacent to the borough, ef- 
fecting a greater Kutztown and creating a 
stronger spirit of aggressiveness. 

Removing the old Main street bridge 
across the Saucony to Normal avenue and 
getting a concrete structure instead. This 
organization took all the preliminary steps 
necessary and obligated themselves finan- 
cially in part. 

Half trolley fare within the borough lim- 
its. 

Better railroad freight rates. 

Two wards giving better voting accom- 
modations and better organization. 

A new bridge on Heifner street. 

The present officers are : A. N. Levau, 
President ; Mabry K. Yoder, Secretary ; 
Victor H. Hauser, Assistant Secretary, and 
Nathan S. Schmehl, Treasurer. 

Board of Heai.th 
The Board of Health was first estab'ished 
in 1893. The preamble in the minute book 
reads thus : 

"Whereas, The Town Council of 
the Borough of Kutztown has, accord- 
ing to an Act of Assembly passed JMay 
II, 1893, appointed the following per- 
sons, viz : Conrad Gehring, Reuben 
Dewalt, N. Z. Dunkelberger, M. D., 
Dr. I. L. Peters, and Dr. E. L. Hotten- 
stein as a Board of Health, they in 
pursuance of said Act met at the house 
of Ulrich Miller, the eighth day of 
September and organized by electing 
the following officers for the ensuing 
year : For President, Conrad Gehring ; 
for Secretary, Reuben Dewalt. 

"No further business being before the 
meeting the Board on motion adjourned 
to meet at the public house of Henry 
Bowers, Sept. 15, 1893, at 8 o'clock, 
P. M. 

Reuben Dewalt, Secretary." 

On September 29, Dr. Peters was unani- 
mously elected treasurer. 

On March 30, 1894, Mr. Gehring re- 
signed from the Board and was succeeded 
by Mr. D. F. Bieber. 

October 2, 1894, the board re-organized 



with Dewalt F. Bieber, president ; Reuben 
DeWalt, secretary and health officer, and 
Dr. Peters, treasurer. 

On Dec. 5, 1895, Reuben Dewalt handed 
in his resignation and on January 22, of 
the following year, 1896, N. S. Schmehl 
was installed as a member ; Dr. Peters act- 
ing as secretary and Dr. Dunkelberger as 
health officer. 

At this point the name of Dewalt F. 
Bieber and Dr. E. L. Hottenstein disap- 
peared from the minutes. The board then 
consisted of Drs. Dunkelberger and Peters, 
Messrs. E. P. DeTurk, N. S. Schmehl and 
Geo. B. Kohler, the latter being the health 
officer. 

October 26, 1897, Geo. B. Kohler re- 
signed as member of board and also as 
health officer ; and he was succeeded by Dr. 
H. W. Saul, who took the oath of office as 
a member of the board at a special meet- 
ing held December 2, 1897. 

One year later, Oct. 25, 1898, the term of 
Dr. Dunkelberger as a member expired 
but he was re-elected by Council, and Dr. 
H. W. Saul was elected president of the 
board. This board a'DDarently continued to 
serve until Jan. 15, 1901, when their records 
cease. 

Under this caption the records of Jan- 
uary II, 1904, appear with the following 
entry on the minutes : "At a meeting of 
the Town Council the president of said 
Council appointed as a Board of Health : 

Term Expires 
N. Z. Dunkelberger, to serve 5 years 1909 
C. J. Rhode, to serve for 4 years . . 1908 
B. M. Deibert, to serve for 3 years. . 1907 
E. P. DeTurk, to serve for 2 years . . 1906 
W. R. Sander, to serve i year .... 1905 

"The new board organized at the resi- 
dence of N. Z. Dunkelberger by electing the 
following officers : President, C. T. Rhode ; 
Secretary, N. Z. Dunkelberger ; Treasurer, 
E. P. DeTurk, and Health Officer, B. M. 
Deibert." 

This board continued to serve until 1908, 
when the record of their last meeting ap- 
pears. During their four years of official 
life many important matters appeared be- 
fore the board for their consideration, the 
principal one being the water supply of the 
borough. 

On July 7, 1908, the records show the 
appointment of still another new board 
which held a meeting for organization on 
the evening of that date. This board con- 
sisted of Dr. E. K. Steckel, (.^ years), Geo. 
H. Smith, (t. vears), D. W. James, (4 
vears), Fred T. Williamson, (2 years"), and 
Solon A. Stein, (i year). The members 
took the oath of office in the Council Cham- 



142 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



ber on ^Monday evening, July 6. The fol- 
lowing officers were elected at the organiza- 
tion meeting: President, Dr. E. K. Steck- 
el : Secretary, S. A. Stein : Treasurer, Geo. 
H. Smith : Health Officer, D. W. James. 

On August 3, 1909, an elaborate set of 
rules and regulations were adopted, which 
were later drafted into an ordinance and 
passed by Councils for the proper control 
of the health of the town and these rules, 




H. 1'. BOGER, Pl-es. 



F. T. WII>LI.A.MSON, Sec. 



with but a single amendment, are in force 
today. 

October 5, 1909, Solon A. Stein resigned 
as a member, having left Kutztown and F. 
T. Williamson was elected to serve as secre- 
tary. 

In October, 1912, I. L. DeTurk was ap- 
pointed to fill the vacancy caused by the 
resignation of Solon A. Stein and this board 



continued in office until legislated out b}' an 
Act of the Legislature in the fall of 191 3. 

The present board was appointed in 
January, 1914, and took the oath of office 
on February 28, of that year. The board 
consists of George H. Smith, Dr. I. L. Pet- 
ers. H. P. Boger, I. L. DeTurk, and Fred. 
T. Williamson. The officers are : H. P. 
Boger, president ; Fred. T. Williamson, sec- 
retary, and D. W. James, health officer. 

Yearly reports showing work done by 
the board are submitted to Councils at the 
first meeting in January. 

Musical Organizations 

A baud of music has been maintained at 
Kutztown for many years which gained a 
great reputation for the recitation of clas- 
sical music in a superior manner. The in- 
structors and leaders have been James Sand- 
ers, Henry Druckenmiller, and Theophilus 
Wagenhurst. Prof. Preston A. Metzgar is 
the present leader: Richard Alissbach, pres- 
ident ; Paul Metzgar, secretary, and S. W. 
Keinert, treasurer. 

A very active musical organization is the 
Kutztown Drum Corps, organized March 
24, 191 1. They render principally martial 
music but are at the same time capable of 
furnishing other kinds of music. The 
corps consists of twenty-five members. 
William S. Gab is the leader. 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



143 



FIRE COMPANIES OLD AND NEW 



From the town records interestino- ex- 
tracts, relating to protection from fires and 
the improvement of the streets, show that 
in 1816 fire ladders were provided. Will- 
iam Henninger was authorized to take the 




The Oi.d Hand Pump and Fire House 

same to the shop of Jacob Baldv and have 
them shod. As early as 1820 stejjs were 
taken to secure a fire engine, but none was 
purchased until 1830, \vhen Dr. Christian 
L. Schlemm, George Bieber and William 
Heidenreich, as a committee, purchased an 



bought, and January 1, 1841, Dr. Bieber 
was apopinted a committee to procure a 
fire bell for the use of the American Fire 
Company. 

Americwn Fire Company 

This company became an incorporated 
body April 2, 1844. 

In 1854, there being no fire company in 
existence, owing to the engine being out of 
repair, the young boys of the borough peti- 
tioned the Council for permission to organ-, 
ize a company. The request was not al- 
lowed. The engine was repaired bv Paul 
Hilbert and Henry Glasser, but not thor- 
oughly, it would seem, for in 1858 two hund- 
red dollars more were expended for this 
purpose, through D. B. Kutz and Companv. 
In i860 the Borough Council decided to 
build an engine house, but the Civil War 
caused the matter to be suspended. The 
building was not put up until 1871. It is 
a two-story brick, twenty-one bv thirty 
feet, and cost one thousand three hundred 
and forty-nine dollars. In it are housed 
the old fire engines, but no company to 
man the same is now maintained. 

On January 14th, 1908, a fire companv 
was organized with the following- officers: 
President. C. D. Herman ; First Vice Presi- 
dent, X. M. Rahn ; Second Vice President, 
Dr. N. Z. Dunkelberger ; Third Vi'^e Presi- 
dent, E. P. DeTurk ;' Secretarv. W. S. Die- 
trich ; Assistant Secretarv, D. M. Saul; 
Chief. W. R. Sander; Assistant Chief, Tohn 
D. Geiger, and Second Assistant Chief, 
Marion Hertzog. 

The present officers are: President, C. 




The New Brockway Motor Eouipmekt, Just Pkocur>d 



engine. The following vear an engine 
house was built by Benjamin Bachman for 
$44-75- In 1836 the fire companv then in 
existence complained that the engine was 
out of repair. In 1840 another engine was 



D. Herman ; First Vice President, W. E. 
Meyers ; Second Vice President, Wm. P.. 
Schaeffer; Recording Secretarv, Jno. D. 
Geiger; Financial Secretarv, Peter K. Steck- 
el; Treasurer, Geo. B. Kohler ; Trustees, 



144 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



Jno. R. Gonser, H. S. Sharadin, S. J. 
Dries, C. I. G. Christman, A. Bonner, O. 
D. Herman, A. K. Lesher, Dr. Geix Stim- 
mel, T- P- S. Fenstermacher, J. D. Shara- 
din, C. W. Miller, and U. J. Miller. 



The present membership is 115. Recent- 
ly the company- bought a Brock\va\- ]\lotor 
Fire Truck from the Brockwa}' Motor Com- 
pany, of Cortland, N. Y., for $3000. It was 
delivered on July I, 191 5. 




Tov;^ Xa>.u ,K>'t^town,pa 



The New Town H.\i,i, and Central Fire Station 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



145 



MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS 



Dr. Ephraini Becker practiced medicine 
in Kutztown up to the year 1814, when 
he died, just one year before the village 
was incorporated into a borough. Soon 
afterwards, Drs. David and William Baum 
came, but stayed a short time only, when 
they both removed to the West. 

Dr. Christian Ludwig Schlemm lived and 
practiced medicine in a house where now 
stands the carriag'e works of R. JMiller's 
son. He began to practice his profession 
here in 1818. In after 3'ears he moved to 
Richmond Township to a place which bears 
his name, Schlemmville, where he died in 
1850. Later his son, Dr. Charles W. 
Schlemm also took up the practice here. 

Dr. James Donagan was born in Phila- 
delphia in 1793. He studied medicine with 
Dr. John C. Baum, of Exeter Township. 
After his graduation at the University of 
Pennsylvania, he located in Kutztown, 
where he practiced medicine for a number 
of years in the house in which is located 
the Kutztown Post Office, at the corner of 
Main and Greenwich Streets. Later he 
built the house on ?ilain Street which at 
present is occupied by Dr. Henry W. Saul. 
This house, ever since its erection, was oc- 
cupied by a physician ; other physicians, 
who were occupants besides Dr. Donagan 
and Dr. Saul were Dr. Charles A. Gerasch 
and Dr. J. S. Trexler. Dr. Donagan later 
moved to Reading, where he studied and 
nracticed law. He died in 1862, and is 
buried in Charles Evans Cemetery, Read- 
ing. 

Dr. Reuben Hains practiced here from 
1836 to 1842 and lived in the house where 
the Pennsylvania Hotel stands. After this 
period he moved to Reading. 

Dr. Charles A. Gerasch, a physician still 
well remembered by many Kutztown citi- 
zens, came from Prussia to Berks County to 
practice medicine and surgery, and located 
in Kutztown about the year 1840, where he 
continued in practice up to the time of his 
death, which occurred on July 22. 1876. 
Dr. Gerasch was most successful in the 
practice of his profession, and his services 
were widely in demand. He took a great 
interest in school affairs and served as a 
director of the oublic schools in Kutztown, 
and as a trustee in the Keystone State Nor- 
mal School. He was a lover of children 
and gladdened the hearts of many by his 
annual Christmas ofiferings, which usually 



consisted of a box or bag of candy and an 
orange. 

Dr. Jeremiah S. Trexler, born in Lehigh 
County, was the son of James Trexler and 
his wife, Jenette Dankel. He received his 
early education in the Moravian Seminar}' 
at Emaus, and at Bethlehem. After read= 
ing medicine with Dr. Charles A. Gerasch 
he took a course in and graduated from the 
University of Pennsylvania in 1854. He 
became associated with his preceptor and 
upon his death continued in practice in 
Kutztown until ten years before his 
death, which occurred in the fall of 
1501. Dr. Trexler served as burgess and 
various other borough offices ; was a trustee 
of the Keystone State Normal School and 
was a member of the Alasonic Fraternity. 

Dr. Wm. S. Bieber practiced here during 
the period of 1830 to 1854 and was located 
in the Kemp building at the corner of ]Main 
and White Oak Streets. He was the father 
of Dr. Lewis Bieber, who practiced in Phil- 
lipsburg, N. J., up to the time of his death 
five years ago. 

Dr. Charles J. Schultz was located here 
and practiced his profession on L'pper Main 
Street in the house at present occcupied by 
■Misses Anna and Emma Grim, daughters 
of the late Daniel P. Grim, Sr. 

Dr. L N. E. Shoemaker located here in 
1870, in the house at present occupied by 
Dr. E. L. Hottenstein ; practiced medicine 
for fourteen 3'ears, when he moved to Phila- 
delphia where he resides at the present 
time. His son. Dr. Ira G. Shoemaker, fol- 
lows the practice of medicine in Reading;;, 
and is located on South Ninth Street. 

Dr. L. C. Berkemeyer practiced medicine 
here and conducted a drug store in the '8o"s, 
in the building where our present druggist. 
Dr. E. J. Sellers is carrying on the busi- 
ness. 

Dr. Isaac C. Detweiler was born in Max- 
atawnv Township, was graduated from the 
Homeopathic College, in Philadelphia, in 
1 86 1, practiced his profession for two years 
in Kutztown, and then moved to Reading. 

Dr. Charles H. Wanner practiced medi- 
cine in Kutztown for a number of years, up 
to the time of his death, which occurred 
November 12, 1869. He was aged 42 
years. 

Dr. Cvrus Wanner, the son of Dr. Charles 
PI. Wanner, started the practice of medicine 



146 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



and surger}' here in 1875, ^'""^ ^'^'^^ located 
at the corner of Main and Noble Streets in 
the house at present occupied by George 
Rhode, butcher. Dr. Wanner had a very 
extensive practice ; he died in February, 
i8go. His 3'oungest son, Jesse, is a physi- 
cian, and is in active practice in Nanticoke, 
Maryland. 

Drs. ]ohn Helfrich and his son, J- Henry 
Helfrich, were Homeopathic practitioners 
here in the '6o's. They came from Lehigh 
County. The latter lived here from 1866 
to 1877, ^ period of 11 3'ears. The former 
was here a short time only. 

Dr. Edward Hottenstein, whose grand- 
father, David Hottenstein, was also a phy- 
sic, studied medicine under Dr. Henrv Geig- 
er, of Harleysville, Montgomery County. 



present is located at the corner of Main 
Street and Strasser Alley. On Nov. 30, 
1889, he was married to Miss Alice Stim- 
mel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William 
F. Stimmel. 

Dr. William J. Hottenstein, third son, is 
a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, 
but later took a course in dentistrv, which 
profession he now follows at Akron, Ohio. 

Dr. Charles A. Hottenstein, fourth son, 
was born in Kutztown on Oct. i, 1871. He 
received his early education in the public 
schools of town and at the Ke3'stone State 
Normal School. He studied dentistry at 
the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surg= 
ery and graduated there in 1892. I^ater 
he took a course in medicine and surgery 
in Jefferson Medical College, receiving his 




Donag.4n-Gerasch-Trexi,er-Saui. House 
The Home of Physicians 



In 1853 he graduated from Jefferson Medi- 
cal College and practiced in Maxatawnv 
Township up to 1870, when he located at 
Kutztown, and practiced here until he re- 
tired 12 years before his death, which oc- 
curred on August 26, 19 14. Five sons of 
Dr. Edward Hottenstein also are graduates 
in medicine. 

Dr. Elmer K. Hottenstein practiced here 
for several years, after which he moved to 
Akron, Ohio, where he is now following his 
profession. 

Dr. Edward L. Hottenstein, second son, 
was born August 12, 1864. He received his 
early education in the public schools of 
Kutztown and at the Keystone State Nor- 
mal School. Later he studied medicine 
with his father, after which he entered Jef- 
ferson Medical College, and graduated there 
in 1886, and immediately thereafter start- 
ed to practice his profession here, and at 



degree from this institution in 1895. He 
now follows dentistry in this borough at 
223 Main Street. On September 10, 1895, 
he was married to Miss Anna C. Hotten- 
steiuj daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 
O. Hottenstein. They are the parents of 
one daughter Myrl, who is attending the 
Normal School. Dr. Hottenstein is a mem- 
ber of St. Paul's Reformed Church and of 
Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, F. and A. M. 
He is also a member of the Board of Trus- 
tees of the Normal School. 

Dr. Peter D. Hottenstein, the fifth son, is 
a graduate of the Keystone State Normal 
School of the class of 1891, and of the 
Medico-Chirurgical College, class of 1894. 
Later he took a course in the Philadelphia 
College of Pharmacy, class of 1899, and is 
following the drug business and the prac- 
tice of medicine in Philadelphia at 5100 
Market Street. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



147 



Dr. N. Z. Duiikelberger is a son of John 
L., and Mary (Zimmerman) Dunkelberger, 
and was born in Bethel Township, Berks 
County. Aug. 16, 1864. His early educa- 
tion was obtained in the schools of Center 
'I'ownship, and by orivate tutorship in the 
advanced branches. He served as clerk in 
a general merchandise store, and taught 
school for a period of six years. Later he 
read medicine, and entered Medico-Chi- 
rurgical College in Philadelphia, from which 
he graduated April 10, i 



In the fall 

of the same year, he located in Kutztown, 
and has ever since successfully practiced 
his profession here. Dr. Dunkelberger 
proved himself a useful citizen in our bor- 
ough not only in his professional work, but 
in municipal affairs as well. He was a 
school director for 22 consecutive years 
and was secretary of the board for 16 
vears. He is burgess of Kutztown at the 
present time. On August 30, 1890, he was 
married to Annie Laura Dunkle, daughter 
of the late Solomon and Sarah Dunkle, of 
Maidencreek Township. He is the father 
of five children, three daughters and two 
sons. 

Dr. Henry W. Saul was born in Kutz- 
town on April 29, 1869, and is the youngest 
son of Mr. and J\Irs. David Saul. After 
receiving his early education in the public 
schools, he entered the Keystone State Nor- 
mal School, from which institution he grad- 
uated in 1889. He taught school, read med- 
icine, and is a graduate of the Baltimore 
Medical College and the University of 
Maryland. On April ist, 1895, he opened 
his office on Main Street and upon the 
death of Dr. J. S. Trexler, took possession 
of the house which the latter had occupied 
and has ever since practiced his profession 
there, paying special attention to eye, ear, 
nose, and throat diseases. Dr. Saul is a 
member of the Berks County Medical So- 
ciety, and was its president during the year 
1912 ; is a member of the Pennsylvania 
State Medical Society, and of the Ameri- 
can Medical Association. He takes a great 
interest in municipal affairs. Pie served as 



burgess of Kutztown from 1909-1914, and 
is at present a member of the board of 
directors of the public schools, and has been 
deputy coroner for the past 11 years. So- 
cially, he is a member of Huguenot Lodge, 
No. 377, F. and A. M., Excelsior Royal 
Arch Chapter, Reading Commandery, No. 
42 Knights Templar, and A. A. O. N. Mys- 
tic Shrine, Knights of the Golden Eagle 
and Jr. O. U. A. M. On August 16, 1904, 
he was married to Miss Katie E. Trexler, 
of Topton, and is the father of three chil= 
dren, one son and two daughters. 

Dr. I. L. Peters was born and raised in 
Lehigh County, Pa. He attended the pub- 
lic schools and Albright College. After 
taking a course in medicine at the Hahne- 
man Medical College, Philadelphia, he grad- 
uated in 1888. In 1890 he located in Kutz- 
town, and has practiced his profession here 
ever since. He is married and is the father 
of one daughter. 

Dr. Elwood Kutz Steckel, the son of 
Edward Martin Steckel and his wife, Susan 
M., born Kutz, was born and raised in 
Kutztown. Earlv in life, through the kind- 
Iv influence of his grandfather, Charles 
Kutz, he entered the Normal School, where 
he was graduated in 1877. For five years 
he taught the Grammar School of the Bor- 
ough of Topton ; in the meanwhile reading 
medicine and preparing for Medical College 
under the direction of Dr. Cvrus Wanner. 
In 1884. he was graduated at Hahnemann 
Medical College, Philadelphia, and beean 
the nractice of medicine at Kutztown. On 
April 28, 1885, he was married to Hettie 
E. B. Mover, of Orwigsbnrsf. and moved 
to that prosperous Schuylkill Countv town 
where he practiced his profession for 24 
vears, covering a large and densely popu- 
lated territory. In IQ08, July 2, he re- 
turned to Kutztown. where he continues the 
practice of his profession. 

Amon.o- other doctors, who studied medi- 
cine -at Kutztown, and later settled else- 
ivhere mav be mentioned: Drs. Beidelman, 
Kictler. Strasser. So'omon Becker. A.. C. L. 
Hottenstein, Manderback, and Miller. 




148 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



THE LEGAL PROFESSION 



Thomas Hardie, the redemptioner school- 
master, purchased by Johannes Siegfried; 
(see "Eiducational History,") was the first 
lawyer, or conve3'ancer, in this section, 
about 1737-41. 

WiUiam Strong-, later one of the judges 
of the United State Supreme Court, once 
practiced law in Kutztown, from which 
place he removed to Reading. He was a 
native of Connecticut, was admitted to the 
bar in Reading November 8, 1832, sat upon 
the Supreme bench of the State of Penn- 
sylvania, and served upon the famous Elec- 
toral Commission that counted Tilden out 
of the Presidency. 

Jacob Levan, "Esquire," ist, settling at 
Eaglepoint, was Judge of Berks County, 
1 75 2- 1 760. 

Daniel Levan, 3d, son of Daniel Levan 
of Levan's (Kemp's) Inn, was admitted to 
the Reading bar, 1768. He served as judge 
in 1777. 

Sebastian Zimmerman was one of the 
judges of the county court 17&7-1771 and 
again from 1778- 1784. At that time there 
were from four to nine "judges." 

Other lawyers were Silas E. Biizzard, 
John K. Longenecker, Henry Kutz. and 
Frederick John Hatten, admitted June 2, 
1801. 

William Heidenreich served as associate 
judge of Berks county prior to David Kutz. 

Judge David Kutz in his day was one of 
the most prominent citizens in these parts. 
He died July 20, 1870, aged 72 years, 7 
months and 17 days. He is buried in Hope 
Cemetery, Kutztown. He served as associ- 
ate judge of Berks county for a number of 
years. He lived on the farm from which 
Kutztown gets its present water suooly. 

The Hon. Hiram H. Schwartz hailed 
from Whitehall, Lehigh county, and after 



graduating from Franklin and Marshall 
College, studied law and settled in Kutz- 
town. He soon gathered a large practice, 
became prominent in politics, and ut the 
formation of the position of Orphans' Court 
Judge, June 29, 1883, received the appoint- 
ment, and by subsequent election held the 
same imtil his death, August 25, 1891. 

J. PL Marx was a native of Kutztown, 
born February 9, 1846, graduated from the 
Keystone State Normal School in 1868, 
taught very successfully for a number of 
years in town and at the Normal School — 
in the meantime reading law under Hon. 
H. H. Schwartz — was admitted to mem- 
bership of the Berks County Bar in 1879, 
and engaged in the practice of law at Kutz- 
town up to the day of his death, which oc- 
curred September 3, 191 3. He was presi- 
dent of the Board of Trustees of the Nor- 
mal School for a number of years. 

F. K. Flood, another attorney raised in 
Kutztown, received his literary training at 
the Normal School, graduating i;i both the 
Elementary and Scientific courses. He 
later read law with Hon. H. H. Schwartz 
and J. Howard Jacobs, and after admission 
to the bar, opened an office in Reading. 
He served as district attorney for one term. 

Among the later lawyers we have such 
prominent men as Ex-District Attorney 
Ira G. Kutz, Reading; Assistant District 
Attorney F. A. Marx, Reading; Harry 
D. Kutz, Nazareth ; Charles R. Wannei 
connected with the Department of the In- 
terior at Washinp^ton, D. C. ; Geo. D. Hum- 
bert, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ; D. Nicho- 
las Schaeffer, Reading; Caleb J. Bieber, 
Reading ; Ex-Senator and Ex-District At- 
torney W. Oscar Miller, Reading; Edward 
D. Trexler, Reading. 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



149 



FAIRS AND BATTALIONS 



"As early as 183 1 that peculiar institu- 
tion, the "Yearly Fair,' had a popular ex- 
istence in Kutztown. It was not a display 
of mechanical and agricultural products, 
but an occasion for hilarious sport, as will 
be seen from the following annoimcement : 

'The Yearly Fair will be held Aug. 12 and 13, 
1831. Persons fond of military parades will see 
Capt. Grim's company of Horse, and Capt. 
Bieber's company of Infantry, and the Kutztown 
Band of Music parade on these days. Shows 
and pastimes of all kinds will be exhibited. 
Hucksters will be well provided with Beer, Mead, 
Sweet Meats and all the Fruits in Season. The 
Youth are informed that there will be an abund- 
ance of good music and plenty of pretty girls 
to dance to it.' — Berks and Schuylkill Journal, 
July 31, 1837. 

An example of the fair at a later day is 
given in the following circular : 

'Glaenzende Fair in der Stadt Kutztaun.' 
'Am Freytag und Samstag, den 2ten und 3ten 
naechsten September, wird in der Stadt Kutz- 
taun eine glaenzende Fair gehalten werden. Un- 
ter den vielen ansiehenden Gegenstaenden, welche 
dieses glaenzende Fest zieren werden, brauchen 
wir nur anzufuehren, dass ein ganzes Regiment 
Freiwilliger zur Parade ausruecken werden — Cav- 
allrie und Infanterie, und dass verschieden- 
artige militaerische manoever ausgefuehrt werden 
sollen. Die Wirthe haben sich nebenbei mit den 
besten Getraenken versehen ; stark und schwach, 
vom besten Braendy bis aufs klare Wasser, so 
dass auch Temperenz Leute accommodirt wer- 
den koennen wie auch mit den besten Speisen fuer 
Van Buren und Harrison Leute — wie auch mit 
Platz fuer 8000 Mann, denn man erwartet, dass 
diese Fair ungewoehnlich zahlreich besucht wer- 
den wird. Fuer gute Fiddler ist ebenfalls gesorgt 
worden. Dass auch Pferde Wettrennen statt- 
linden werden, versteht sich von selbst. Nament- 
lich wird das beruehmte Virginien Pferd Bu- 
cephalus gegen das vollbluetige importirte Pferd 
Rosinante springen. Auch werden einige kleine 
Ballons in die Hoehe gelassen werden. 

'P. S. — Es wird erwartet, dass die Laedies voi'i 
Lande sich ein wenig schoen aufdressen werden — 
indem die Kutztauner Laedies sich von Kopf zum 
Fuss mit den praechtigsten neuen Stoffen aus 
unsern Stohren versehen haben. Kutztaun, Au- 
gust 17, 1836.' 

'At first the battalions and the militia 
trainings were one and the same thing. 
When the latter were abolished, the festivi- 
ties originally connected with them were 
continued under the name of the former. 
These were held in the month of ]\Iay, the 
fairs in September, and the frolics when- 
ever the humor of the people and the wish- 
es of the landlords required them. About 
forty years ago fairs died out. These be- 
came so unpopular that it sometimes hap- 
pened that no sufficient notice of the time 
of their holding was given. As a result of 



this, the lovers of fun who lived in the re- 
moter parts of the county, occasionally made 
their appearance in Kutztown a day too 
late. J:"rom this fact originated the well- 
known phrase ' a day after the fair.' 

'The battalions were the occasion of im- 
mense gatherings. Not onl)' did the militia 
turn out, but the volunteer organizations 
swelled the ranks until more than a thou- 
sand men were in line. General Jeremiah 
Shappell is best remembered as a brigade 
inspector who ably handled this body of 
citizen soldiers, and his military bearing is 
still remembered by the old citizens. These 
gatherings were seldom bloodless. Men of 
brutal disposition looked forward to them 
as the time when they would meet kindred 
spirits, and in sanguinary combats deter- 
mine who should be entitled to homage as 
the "bully" the ensuing year. Hence fights 
and brawls were of constant occurrence, and 
the whole influence was debasing. The bat- 
talions were not inclined to elevate life, and 
it was not until the Normal School, with 
its refining influence, had made them ob- 
noxious in the sight of the respectable ele- 
ment of the community that they finally 
succumbed in 1873. '^^'^^ "Frolic" has also 
been relegated to the past, and its departure 
should cause no regrets. It was a low form 
of amusement, whose existence is not pos- 
sible among refined people ; and those who 
regarded it as a form of enjoyment in their 
youth looked upon it as mad folly in their 
maturer 3'ears, and so severely discounten- 
anced it that it died for want of patronage.' 
— Historv of Befks County (1886) page 

358-359- " 

Dr. Higbee used to tell a story of how 
one of the early officers of the militia, at 
one of the battalions held at Kutztown, not 
being entirely familiar with martial term- 
inology and desiring to command in Eng- 
lish after some hesitancy finally exclaimed, 
"Men turn mit your front sides to Reading 
and mit your back sides to Kutztown — for- 
wards, march." Dr. Higbee also relates 
how his predecessor, the learned Dr. Wick- 
ersham, state superintendent of public in- 
struction, who was colonel of a regiment of 
students at the time of Lee's invasion, desir- 
ing to march his soldiers around a pool of 
water exclaimed, "Bovs, evade the mud." 

The Old Kutztown Fair 

In 1870 the Keystone AgricuUvral and 
Horticultural Societv was chartered. Six- 



15° 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



teen acres of land were bought, the neces- 
sary buildings erected and track was built. 
For many years successful exhibitions took 
place here annually; in fact, the Kutztown 
Fair was, and is to-day, one of the principal 
events of Berks county. The first officers 
were: Elijah DeTurk, president; John R. 
Gonser, secretary ; L. K- Hottenstein, treas- 
urer; and for 1876 George J. Kutz, presi- 
dent; Jefferson C. Hoch, secretary; A. J 
Fogel, treasurer ; Dr. J. S. Trexlei-, corres- 
ponding secretary ; Hon. H. H. Schwartz, 
attorney. 

In dctober, 1872 Horace Greeley, then 
the Democratic candidate for the presidency 
of the United States, visited Kutztcwn, and 
delivered two addresses, one before the 
society and the other before the students 



The Fair ground was purchased in 1903 
by Daniel Kline, Jacob B. Esser, and Wil- 
liam R. Sander, known as the Kutztown 
Improvement Company, and was divided 
into building lots. 

Previous to this time the fair for a num- 
ber of years was conducted by Jacob B. 
Esser. 

Kutztown Fair Association 
The Kutztown Fair Association was char- 
tered to do business in the spring of 1905. 
Soon after the "Old Kutztown Fair" be- 
came a thing of the past the citizens of 
this community began to agitate the re-or- 
ganization of a Fair Association because of 
which agitation the present Association be- 
came a realitv. 




Record Breaking Crowd at the New Kutztown Fair 



of the Keystone State Normal School. For 
1874, the orator, during the agricultural 
exhibition, was Alexander Ramsey, United 
States Senator from Minnesota; 1875, 
Judge Humphreys, of Washington, D. C. ; 
1882 General James A. Beaver and in 1893 
Governor Robert E. Pattison. 

Jacob R. Heffner and Joshua Levan 
bought the grounds in 1877. After Joshua 
Levan's death in January 1884, William H. 
Heffner and Llewellyn Kaufman bought 
|l,evan's share, each owning one-fourth. 
Then Edwin DeLong and Cyrenius Kutz 
had Jacob R. Heffner's share for three 
years. Later William H. Heffner boughc 
out DeLong and Kutz. 

In i8go Jacob R. Heffner took William 
H. Heffner's, deceased, share. 



The beautiful and spacious grounds, lo- 
cated in the northwestern section of the 
borough were purchased from three par- 
ties, the greater portion, consisting of over 
twenty-nine acres, was purchased from the 
Fairview Stock Farm for a consideration 
of $5078.28 ; a second purchase of over an 
acre and a quarter was made from A. S. 
Christ for $1000.00 ; and later an addition- 
al lot was purchased from George Heiser 
for $225.00. 

In addition to the purchase of the grounds 
the largest item of expense at the beginning 
was for the construction of the race track. 
Owing to the topography of the land and 
the nature of the soil the work of construct- 
ing the track delayed the holding of the 
first Fair till the middle of October, 1905 ; 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



151 



but it is now well that the Fair was delayed 
till that time, for that gave the Association 
opportunity to build a half mile track which 
horsemen all over the country have repeat- 
edly pronounced second to none in the 
State. 

Besides constructing the race track the 
Association erected a number of substantial 
buildings, including the Grand Stand and 
the Main Fair House, to which have since 
been added a poultry house, two cattle 
sheds, stalling over one hundred head of 
cattle, race horse stalls, accommodating over 
one hundred horses, a spacious pig sty, a 
large ofifice building, containing an exhibi- 
tion space of 40 feet by 80 feet, and a sub- 
stantial hotel building. 

The growth and popularity of the Fair 



Fair, a pro rata appropriation of $1000.00 
to be used toward the payment of premiums 
on products; but since 1914 each Fair re- 
ceives separately $1000.00 for this purpose, 
so that the Association is now in a position 
to pay more substantial premiums. In fact, 
the premiums on products have been more 
than doubled in the past two years. 

Since 1913 this Fair has been laying es- 
pecial stress on educational exhibits. Work- 
ing on the hypothesis that the child must be 
interested in things industrial, agricultural 
and educational in order that the adult may 
take the proper interest in the same, this 
xA-Ssociation make a specialty of paying lib- 
eral premiums for school exhibits with the 
result that all expectations have been sur- 
passed. 




An Exciting Race at the New KutzTown Fair 



has been such that the exhibits in the var- 
ious lines have overcrowded every building 
on the grounds. 

The money to defray expenses incurred 
in purchasing the grounds and improving 
the same has been raised by the sale of 
stock. The stockholders, numbering over 
five hundred, are scattered over Berks and 
the adjacent counties. 

Since its inception the Association has 
been a member of the National Trotting 
Association, and for the past four years 
a member of the "Big Fair Circuit." This 
last affiliation has been a means of standard- 
izing exhibitions of speed and brings to the 
Fair some of the best horses on the turf. 

At first the Association had to struggle to 
raise sufficient funds to pay substantial 
premiums, but after several years of exist- 
ence it was recognized by the State, and 
received, in conjunction with the Reading 



The Board of Directors, consists of twen- 
ty-five of the stockholders, elected at the 
annual meeting, held the first Monday in 
February. The first board, elected in the 
spring of 1905, consisted of the following: 
Dr. Chas. D. Werley, Topton ; A. G. Smith, 
Maxatawny ; Geo. A. Dreibelbis, Virgins- 
ville; F. S. Kutz, Fleetwood; D. M. Her- 
bein, Fleetwood ; Aaron Brintzenhoff , Bow- 
ers ; Geo. Schoedler, Lyons ; James B. Fish- 
er, Monterey; John Barbey, Reading; H. J. 
Stocker, Reading; Frank D. Smith, Schof- 
er ; Wilson M. Rahn, Moselem Springs ; D. 
B. Edelman, Maidencreek ; W. P. Krum, 
Krumsville ; Solomon Heist, Dryville ; Geo. 
Isamoyer, Longswamp ; L. C. Schwoyer, 
Breinigsville ; Abraham DeTurk, Oley ; F. 
H. Werley, Weisenberg ; James Frey, Kutz- 
town ; Dr. U. S. G. Bieber, Kutztown; C. J. 
Rhode, Kutztown; J. B. Esser, Kutztown, 
and Dr. N. Z. Dunkelberger, Kutztown. 



152 



CENTHNKIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



The l)oard organized by electing J. B. Es- 
ser, President ; Dr. C. D. Werley, First Vice 
President ; F. S. Kutz, Second Vice Presi- 
dent; C. J. Rhode, Secretary, and Dr. U. S. 
G. Bieber, Treasurer. 

The following members of the first board 
have served continuously in that capacity 
up to the present time : Geo. A. Dreibelbis, 
F. S. Kutz, Wilson M. Rahn, W. P. Krum, 
F. H. Werley, Dr. L'. S. G. Bieber and Dr. 
N. Z. Dunkelberger. 

The present board consists of the follow- 
ing members : Chas. D. Herman, Kutz- 
town. President ; A. K. Lesher, Kutztown, 
First Vice President; F. S. Kutz, Fleet- 
wood, Second Vice President ; G. C. Bord- 
ner, Kutztown, Secretary ; F. H. Werley, 
Kutztown, Treasurer ; Llewellyn Angstadt, 
Kutztown ; Dr. U. S. G. Bieber, Kutztown ; 
Chester D. Christ, Kutztown; E. P. De- 
Turk, Kutztown ; Lawson G. Dietrich, Kutz- 
town ; Geo. A. Dreibelbis, Virginsville ; D. 
A. Dries, Kutztown; Dr. N. Z. Dunkel- 
berger, Kutztown ; William Fink, Kutz- 
town ; David Heffner, Lyons ; S. H. Heff- 
ner, Kutztown ; Geo. C. Herman, Kutztown ; 
J. S. Knittle, Kutztown; W. P. Krum, 
Krumsville ; Chas. H. Rahn, Kutztown ; 
Wilson M. Rahn, Kutztown ; Albert S. Sar- 
ig. Bowers ; Geo. A. Schlenker, Kutztown ; 

A. J- Seidel, Kutztown ; J. K. Steffy, Lyons. 
The following additional parties have 

served as directors since the Association was 
chartered : Wilson Hoffman, Calcium ; J . 
S. Heffner, Kutztown: Nathan Oswald; E. 

B. Stoudt, Blandon ; H. O. Zimmerman, 
Ivutztown ; C. D. Kutz, Lyons ; Abner Dey- 
sher, Reading ; Samuel J-Iummel, Kutztown ; 
Henry J. Schmeck, Kutztown. 

The Presidents of the Association have 
been J. B. Esser and Chas. D. Herman ; and 
the Secretaries have been C. T- Rhode, J- 
B. Esser, Dr. N. Z. Dunkelberger and G. C. 
Bordner. Dr. U. S. G. Bieber, E. P. De- 
Turk and F. H. Werle_v have served as suc- 
cessive treasurers. 

The Racing Game in Olden Times 
In the late twenties and early thirties 
there was a race course on the farm now 
owned by fames Schaeffer in Maxatawny 
township, formerly the property of George 
Breyfogel. Nothing but running races 
were conducted on the track. Later the 
race course was laid out east of Kutztown, 
nn the land of Jacob Fisher, better known 
as "Daddv" Fisher, a tract now owned by 
Frank Schmeck. Racing took place annual- 
ly and lasted three days. People came from 



Philadelphia and New York as well as from 
nearby points. Some of the local horse- 
men were David Fister, David Levan, Jesse 
Overbeck, and Christian Cupp. 

A rather tricky game was pulled off one 
time by a stranger with a lean horse. The 
man appeared to be ignorant of what was 
going on. After being told that running 
races were indulged in he asked if he could 
enter his nag. Everybody gave the man 
a merry ha ! ha ! Not being satisfied in 
losing the first event he entered again and 
cleaned up the old sports, winning "all kinds 
of money. x\t first the local horsemen 
seemed dissatisfied because on the home 
stretch the man fell accidentally or inten- 
tionally from his horse but nevertheless 
the animal finished first without its rider. 

He was a game old gentleman and after 
cashing in his bets left for parts unknown. 

In the early part of the seventies run- 
ding races were held on the Easton Road. 
The starting point was at Rev. Isaac Roel- 
ler's home, now the property of Dr. LI. S- 
G. Bieber, and the finish at Kemp's Hill. 
This racing was a purely local affair, rival- 
r}' being keen between the owners of a num- 
ber of fast horses. On these occasions the 
streets were lined with interested spectators 
and much betting was indulged in. 

Some Military Notes 

1 781 — Militia from Greenwich and Alax- 
atawny, numbering 120 men, were on a tour 
of duty. 

Data with reference to the soldiers of 
this region of the Revolutionary War are 
very scant. We find that on Sept. 27, 1777, 
a battalion, under Col. Michael Linden- 
muth, from Bern, was mustered in, consist- 
ing of 256 men. Of these one company 
came from Richmond township under the 
caotiancy of John Rodearmel. 

Again in the same year another battalion 
under Col. Joseph Hunter, from Reading, 
was mustered in. This company consisted 
of 2^6 men of which one captain was Mich- 
ael Togge from Richmond. 

In August, 1780, also under command 
of Col. Joseph Kiester, the Sixth Battalion 
joined the army of Gen. Joseph Reed in 
New Jersey, near Cam'den. Jacob Baldy, 
from Maxatawny, was one of the captains 
of this battalion. Evidently the soldiers 
which enlisted from this section were in 
these different battalions. It is further 
stated that the militia from Greenwich and 
Maxatawny townships, which were on a 
tour of duty, numbered 120 men. 

Following is the muster roll of the Wash- 



CENTEiVNiAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



153 



ington Guards, prominent in the old bat- 
talion days. These men were the forerun- 
ners of the now existing National Guards 
of Pennsylvania : 

Captain Daniel Bieber 
First Lieut. John Kover 
Second Lieut. John L. Yeager 
First Segt. David Fister 
Second Sergt. Peter Gift 
Third Sergt. Jacob Harmanv 
Fourth Sergt. John Y. Houck 
First Corpl. Charles Singmaster 
Second Corpl. Johnathan Harmanv 
Third Corpl. William Heidenrcich 
Fourth Corpl. Charles Fauber 
Privates : 



Peter Angstadt 
Benjamin Bachman 
Isaac Baldy 
Reuben Bast 
William Bast 
Edwin H. Bieber 
Joshua Bieber 



David Bobst 
bamuel Bobst 
John Dedweiler 
Jacob Dieter 
Benjamin Dornmoye 
Charles W. Esser 
John H. Esser 



Elias Fegley 
David Fegel)' 
David Fink 
Solomon Fisher 
William Fister 
Jonathan Fritz 
Charles H. Gehr 
Valentine George 
Daniel Gift 
William M. Gift 
Jonathan Grim 
Jonathan S. Grim 
Dr. Reuben Haines 
Samuel Harmany 
William Heist 
Henry G. Henningei 
John Y. Houck 
Daniel Humbert 
William Kroll 
Edward G. Knoskc 
John Kover 
Mathias Kruck 
Abraham Kutz 
Benjamin Kutz 
Josiah Kutz 
James Leidy 



Abraham Lcvan 
David Levan 
David Ncff 
John Nehf 
l-[arrison Ohl 
Nathan Paltzgrove 
David Reidenour 
Levi Reppert 
William Schlem 
John Schneider 
Samuel Schneider 
Wilham F. Sellers 
Fayate Shedler 
David Sheradin 
Henry Sneydcr 
Isaac K. Strausser 
John B. Swenk 
George Wink 
Jesse Wink 
John G. Wink 
Nathan Wink 
William Wink 
Abraham S. Wolf - 
Jacob Xander 
John Xander 
George Young 




KuTzTOWN Park Sckne 



154 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOVVN 



FRATERAL ORGANIZATIONS 



Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, F. & A. M. 

Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, Free and Accepted 
Masons, was constituted by the Grand Officers ot 
the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on November 
29, 1866, with the following members as charter 
members: Achilles J. Fog el, Dr. Jeremiah S. 
Trexler, Devvalt S. Kutz, Jonathan B. Grim, Lew- 
is Fisher, Rev. J. S. Herman, William S. Kutz, 
Daniel F. Wagner and Alvin Dewey. 

All of the charter members have died,— the 
last one to cease labor being our highly esteemed 
townsman, the late William S. Kutz, who passed 
away July 10, 1914. 

The first Master of the Lodge was Achilles J. 
Fogel, and the first Secretary, Lewis Fisher. 

From the day of its constitution till Novem- 
ber 21, 1874, the hall of the lodge was located 
above the store of Daniel Hinterleiter, now 
known as the store of Shankweiler Bros. On 
that date they held their first meeting in the hall 
in the building of James L. Eck, now known as 
the store of L B. Stein & Son. The lodge's 
lease of this hall extended over a period of ten 
years, until April 5, 1884, when they took pos- 
session of the hall in l3r. Jeremiah Trexler's 
block, now owned by Chas. D. Herman. Here 
the meetings have been held ever since. 

The following members have ruled the lodge 
as Worshipful Master ; Achilles J. Fogel, Jere- 
miah S. Trexler, Dewalt S. Kutz, Levi R. Lentz, 
Jairus Hottenstein, Daniel F. Wagner, Simpson 
S. Schmehl, Cyrus F. Reifsnyder, Hiram H. 
Schwartz, Eldridge Zimmerman, Francis H. Yeag- 
er, Richard H. Koch, Samuel A. Baer, George C. 
Young, David S. Keck, Cyrenius W. Kutz, Nath- 
an C. Schaeffer, Edwin M. Herbst, Edward Hot- 
tenstein, Oscar L Mellot, John O. Glase, Eli M. 
Rapp, Charles W. Miller, G. Henry Heinly, James 
H. Marx, Thomas S. Levan, Jacob B. Esser, 
George B. Smith, Charles D. Werley, Morris D. 
Trexler, Frank S. Kfebs, Henry W. Saul, Will- 
iam R. Sander, Ulrich J. Miller, Howard S. Shar- 
adin, Frederick A. Marx, Llewellyn Angstadt, 
Francis E. Sharadin, Quinton D. Herman, George 
W. Bieber, George C. Bordner, Nathan S. Levan, 
O. Raymond Grimley, Warren G. Hartman, 
Amandus M. Dietrich and Charles L Kutz. 

The following have served as Secretary of the 
Lodge : Lewis Fisher, Zacharias C. Hoch, David 
S. Keck, Albert M. Kline, Nathan C. Schaeffer, 
Alfred S. Seidel, Cyrenius W. Kutz, George D. 
Humbert, James H. Marx and the present incum- 
bent, George C. Bordner. 

Since the day of its constitution the lodge has 
been fortunate in having a steady but conserva- 
tive growth. Starting with nine charter mem- 
bers it has grown continuously till the roster at 
this time shows 195 active members. 

Its present membership is composed of men 
standing high in the professions of education, 
medicine, law and theology, as well as some of 
the town's most prominent business men and fin- 
anciers. Its membership is scattered far and 
wide, for its mailing list extends over three dif- 
ferent countries, over sixteen states and over 
twenty counties. 

Junior Order United American Mechanics 

Chas, A. Gerasch Council, No. 1004, Jr. O. U. 

A. M., was organized on Feb. 2, 1895, by the 

following members who were initiated on the 



first meeting night : Oliver Brown, Millard 
Babb, Walla-e A. Dietrich, Henry Eggy, Lenius 
E. S. Folk, Benjamin F. Hain, George Herring, 
Wm. G. l\ern, John Mertz, Jas. P. Michael, 
Samuel Scheidt, William L. bcheidt, Samuel 
Schmehl, S. M. Smith, Peter Steckel, David 
Stoudt, J ohn D. Wink, Harry J . Wylie and Henry 
Zettlemoyer. 

Eight of these charter members are still active 
while the other eleven have either died or were 
suspended. At first the Council had an up-hill 
road but the members were wide awake and knew 
that they had launched a project and were able 
to handle it and make a success of the under- 
taking. 

It has been proved that the Jr. O. U. A. M. 
are able to take care of themselves by the mem- 
bership at the present time which is 430. The first 
officers were the following : Councilor, S. M. 
Smith; V. C, Wallace A. Dietrich; Rec. Sec, 
Wm. G. Kern ; Asst. Rec. Sec, Peter Steckel ; 
Fin. Sec, David Stoudt; Treas., N. Z. Dunkle- 
berger; Con., Sam. Scheidt; Warden, Henry 
Eggv; I. S., Oliver Brown; O. S., Jas. Michael; 
Jr. P. C, John D. Wink; Trustees, Wallace A. 
Dietrich, Henry Eggy and Sam. Scheidt. 

The present officers are Jr. P. C, Arthur D. 
Bortz ; Councilor, Geo. M. Welder ; V. C, Joseph 
A. Reimert: Rec. Sec, C. D. Koch; Asst. Rec. 
Sec, Paul Angstadt; Fin. Sec, B. M. Deibert; 
Treas., C. S. Siegfried; Con., Chas. Wanner; 
Warden, Jas. Kemp; I. S., Fred Kemp; O. S., 
Robert Luckenbill ; 'Trustees, John D. Geiger, E. 
G. Rahn, Geo. M. Welder ; Representative, John 
D. Geiger; Alternate, Eugene D. Dietrich; Chap- 
lain, Chas. O. Moyer. 

Company C, of Chas. A. Gerasch Council, was 
organized with 26 members in 1903 and is 
in a flourishing condition to the present time. 
They are a great auxiliary to the council attend- 
ing all patriotic demonstrations. The Jr. O. U. 
A. M. has paid out of its funds $i2,2.s8.oo for 
sick and death benefits ; $3900.00 to the Funeral 
Benefit Department; has $10,150.00 invested while 
in its treasury $847.00 is held as an emergency 
fund. 

The Oriental Degree, a side issue of the Coun- 
cil, was organized on Aug. 29, 1895, bv S. M. 
Smith, Peter Steckel, Oliver Brown, Benjamin 
Hain, Wm. B. Dietrich, John Bieber, Carmie 
Heffner, Elmer Kroninger, Millard Babb and 
Salem J. Bock. It has 373 members and is in 
a flourishing conditio \ 

Knights of the Golden Eagle 
Adonai Castle, No. 70, Knights of the Golden 
Eagle, was instituted Jan. 14, 1886, with ^y charter 
members, and today is recognized as one of the 
strongest castles in the state, and likewise one 
of the best financially. There was a need of 
such an organization so that today it is sup- 
ported by a noble constituency of Sir Knights, 
who represent the best type of citizenship. 

Adonai Castle offers the young men of our 
town who join an exceptionally good proposition 
in that it is a good substantial lodge that has 
withstood the ordeals and tests of time. The 
Knights of the Golden Eagle is a fraternal, bene- 
ficial and semi-military order and its objects and 
aims are to promote the principles of true bene- 
volence, to assist its members in sickness and 
adversity, to assist those out of employment, to 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



155 



encourage each other in business, to stimulate 
the moral and mental culture and to elevate the 
membership towards a higher and nobler life. It 
studiously avoids all sectarian and political con- 
troversies and aims to cultivate the social, moral 
and intellectual feelings of its members and pro- 
mote their welfare in all walks of life. 

The first officers of the castle were : P. C, J. 
P. S. Fentersmacher ; VV. C, J. H. Marx; V. C., 

C. W. Snyder; H. P., W. M. Hoffman; V. H., 
R. M. Fritch; S. H , M. T. Donmoyer; M. of R., 

D. L. Wartzenluft; C. of Ex., B. M. Diebert; 
K. of Ex., N. S. Schmehl; W. C, C. D. Herman; 
Equs., J. B. Breininger; V\'. G., J. T. Fritch; Eng., 

A. K. Bieber; ist G., Vvilson Sander; 2d G., Geo. 
Fisher. 

The castle at present has a membership of 
^•'Q and has paid to its members for sick and 
death benefits $20,000.00. Its total worth is $23,- 
673.28. The officers are: P. C, C. R. Hoppes ; 
N. C, F. B. Hoch; V. C, Percy Keodinger; H. 
P., Joseph Haney; V. H., Chas. F. Reinhart; M. 
of R., Walter E. Herman ; C. of Ex., H. S. Shara- 
din; K. of Ex., F. H. Werley ; S. H, Adam 
Youse; W. B., C. W. Kover'; W. C, Chas. Arn- 
old; Eng., Geo. Carl; Equs., Harvey Gambler; 
1st G., Charles Hauck; 2d G., Francis Trexler ; 
Representative, H. P. Boger. 

Fraternal Order 01? Eagles 
Kutztown Aerie, No. 839, Fraternal Order of 
Eagles, was instituted on the evening of August 
30, 1904, in the old Music Hall. The ceremonies 
incident to the institution of the lodge were per- 
formed by the Lehighton Aerie. There were 
about 50 members initiated on that occasion. 

The first officers were : Past Worthy Presi- 
dent, A. K. Lesher, (Hon. Title) ; Worthy Pres- 
ident, W. H. Koch ; Worthy Vice President, Percy 
Ermentrout; Worthy Chaplain, E. Z. Witman; 
Secretary, Wm. S. Rhode ; Treasurer, A. K. 
Lesher ; Conductor, John F. Flowers ; Guards, 
J. Eldridge Dries and Cyrus Kohler ; Trustees, 
J. T. Fritch, Dr. N. Z. Dunkleberger and Dr. 
E. L. Hottenstein. 

The lodge first held their meetings in the Wash- 
ington House Hall, but after a few months se- 
cured quarters in the building next the Kutz- 
town National Bank, at present occupied by I. 

B. Stein and Son. Here they remained until 
about seven years ago, when they moved into the 
present handsome quarters at the corner of 
Park Avenue and Laurel Street. 

ihe membership of the lodge has grown stead- 
ily until at present there are almost 350 mem- 
bers on the roll. Financiall}', too, the Aerie has 
been a sitccess, the treasury at this time being in 
a very healthy condition. 

During its eleven years of existence the or- 
ganization has disbursed a large sum in sick and 
funeral benefits, besides contributing liberally in 
assisting other deserving causes outside the lodge 
proper. (Its latest donation was $100 to the 
Centennial Fund.) 

The present officers of the Kutztown Aerie are : 
Past W. President, Joseph A. Hanev : W. Presi- 
dent, Wm. D. Yaxtheimer ; W. Vice President, 
Wm. D. Fisher; W. Chaplain, Wm. Bortz; Sec- 
retary, Howard S. Sharadin ; Treasurer, Alvin 
H. Peter ; Conductor, Russell Brooks ; Inside 
Guard, Jas. N. Stump ; Outside Guard, Jos. Lam- 
bert, Jr.; Trustees, E. M. Angstadt, Sealous 
Fisher and Wm. F. Schoedler ; Aerie Physician, 
Dr. N. Z. Dunkleberger. Eleven members have 
passed away since the lodge was organized. 



Ladies of the Golden Eagle 
Purity Temple, No. 124, Ladies of the Golden 
Eagle, was organized on May 29, 1900, with a 
charter membership of twenty-four. The pres- 
ent membership is 113. During the fifteen years 
of its existence the lodge has paid for relief 
and charity $2,743.60, and on January i, 1915, 
its treasurer reported the amount of $1,701.08 in 
the treasury. Now let us look at the receipts 
for the last fifteen years. 

Receipts from dues $ 5,271 20 

Admission Fees 203 00 

Other sources 1,227 81 

Total Receipts $ 6,702 01 

Total expenses during the fifteen years were : 

For Relief Work $ 2,743 60 

J? or Working Expenses 2,257 33 

Total $ 5,000 93 

Receipts $ 6,702 01 

Expenses 5,000 93 

Balance Jan. i, 1915 $ 1,701 08 

Of this amount $1,414.00 is invested. 

The members all feel proitd of the progress 
made in fifteen years and are striving to raise 
Purity Temple to a still higher standard in this 
town. Purity Temple, No. 124, Ladies of the 
Golden Eagle, is always anxious to take in new 
members. The present officers are as follows : 
P. T., Mary Fritz; N. T., Sallie Bloch ; V. T., 
Louisa Erb ; M. of C, Mary Smith ; Priestess, Ef- 
fie Fritch; Prophetess, Lawrena Wentzel ; G. of 
M., Mantana Wessner; G. of R., Annie Leiser; G. 
of Ex., Mary Angstadt; G. of F., Kate Drucken- 
miller; G. of I. P., Mary Angstadt; G. of O. P., 
Mamie Wylie ; Trustees, Kate Bock, Mantana 
Wessner and Lizzie Weil. 

Fidelity Lodge, No. 102 
Fidelity Lodge, No. 102, Order of Shepherds 
of Bethlehem of North America, was instituted 
May 23, 1907, in Washington House Hall, with 
25 members. Five more members were admit- 
ted during the following month, after which the 
charter was closed. The lodge was instituted 
bv Mrs. Eva A. Wyckoff, of Camden, N. J., the 
founder of the order. She was assisted by Mrs. 
Mary L. Koch of Reading, Pa., the prelate of 
the lodge. The first officers were : Commander, 
Herman A. Fister; Vice Commander, Mayme 
Dries; Aid to Commander, Annie Lesher; Past 
Commander, Annie M. Angstadt ; Treasurer, Geo. 
H. Smith ; Chaplain, A. W. Hagemeyer ; Marshal, 
Frank Fegley; Inside Guard, Minnie E. Fox; 
Outside Guard, Mamie Fritch; Master of Cere- 
monies, John A. Fox; Trustees, Alice Angstadt, 
John A. Fox and Carl Ahlandt. Washington 
House (Yoder's) Hall was selected as a perm- 
anent place of meeting, at which olace the lodge 
meets at 8 o'clock, P. M., except on legal holi- 
days. The motto of the order is Truth, Hope 
and Faith. Its principles are to promote peace 
and harmony among its members, to inculcate the 
teachings of the Holy Bible, and to promote the 
cause of temperance. The ritualistic work is 
taken from the Bible, beginning with the beau- 
tiful story of Ruth, down to the birth of Christ. 
During the eight years of its work, the lodge has 
buried four of its members and paid for the 
relief of the sick and disabled $518.90, for run- 
ning exoenses $640.00, for entertainment $80.10, 
for assessments to the funeral fund $576, and 



156 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



for the home and orphanage $480.20, and has a 
balance of $760 on interest. The nieni1)ership on 
March i, 1915,' was 82. 

The present officers are : Commander, Anna 
Way : Vice Commander, Nora Moll : Past Com- 
mander, Eliza A. Smith ; Treasurer, Minnie E. F. 
Fox ; Accountant, George H. Smith ; Scribe, 
D. W. James; JNIarshal, Lovina Herbein ; Organ- 
ist, Florence Arndt : Chaplain, Sylvia Pusch ; Mas- 
ter of Ceremonies, Fred. Bennecoff ; Inside Guard, 
Sarah Hagemeyer ; Outside Guard, Gertrude Bil- 
lig; Trustees, Lizzie Wessner, John A. Fox and 
Mantana Wessner. 

Patriotic Okder Sons of America 

Washington Camp, No. 677, P. O. S. of A., 
meets every Monday evening in Washington 
House Hall. It was instituted at Kutztown, Pa., 
on July 23d., 1910, with a membership of twenty- 
three. This was the third institution of a Camp 
at Kutztown, the other two having become de- 
funct. The following officers were elected to 
serve the first term ; Past President. Geo. H. 
Smith ; President, D. W. James ; Vice President, 
Calvin H. Smith; Master of Forms, M. J. Rom- 
berger; Conductor, E. S. Ziegler; Financial Sec- 
retary, A. F. DeLong ; Recording Secretary, W. 
F. Schick ; Treasurer, J. E. Dries ; Inspector, W. 
B. Flexer ; Guard, David Dries ; Chaplain, B. F. 
Cressman ; Trustees, Geo. H. Smith, B. F. Reider 
and Irvin Merkel. 

Membership, March i, 1915, loi ; valuation, 
March i, 1915, $562.72; membership in Pennsyl- 
vania, 115,000. The present officers are: Dis- 
trict President, W. F. Schick ; Past President, 
James M. Hafer ; President, John Erb ; Vice-Pre- 
sident, Leroy Brumbach ; Master of Forms, Frank 
Williams ; Recording Secretary, Geo. H. Smith ; 
Financial Secretary, A, F. DeLong; Treasurer, J. 
Eldridge Dries ; Conductor, Curtis Kramer ; In- 
spector, Irvin Kemp ; Guard, George Carl ; Chap- 
lain, Irvin Groninger ; Trustees, H. W. Klein, J. 
I. Litzenberger and Clinton Braucher. 



KuTzTowN Lodge, No. 214 
Des Deutschen Ardens der Harugari 

Eor twenty years or more there flourished in 
Kutztown, along with other familiar orders, an 
unique lodge, known by the name of Kutztown 
Lodge, No. 214, Des Deutschen Ardens der Haru- 
gari. It was unique because while it was a dis- 
tinctively German order, with a large member- 
ship snread over the entire United States, this 
particular branch consisted of 90 per cent.of na- 
tive Americans whose ancestors had belonged to 
the first German immigration into Penn's colony. 

The lodge was instituted May 20, 1870. The 
first secretary was Aug. Sprenger, watchmaker 
and jeweler, who was one of Kutztown 's sub- 
stantial and esteemed citizens for the greater 
part of his useful life. He was succeeded some 
years later b3' Conrad Gehring who held the 
office for many years, serving during that time 
one term each as district depvity grand bard 
and representative to the grand lodge. The mem- 
bership was over one hundred and at one time 
the assets of the lodge were over $1500. The 
dvtes were $4.00 a year, the sick benefits $4.00 a 
week and the mortality benefits $100 for a mem- 
ber and $50 for the wife of a member. As the 
members grew older and some permanently in- 
capacited, the drain on the treasury became too 
heavy for the income and the lodge finally dis- 
banded. 

Some of the prominent members who made 
the ineetings lively at times were : Isaac Wagon- 
horst, Isaac Wentzel, Henry Keiter, George O'- 
Neil, George Fleischmann, Henry Petersen, Ul- 
rich Miller, Hugo Wittiger, Henry Stigman, 
John G. Schofer, John H. Schofer, Tames Os- 
wald, Myrus Oswald, Jonathan Weida, Daniel 
B. Kutz, William Brown, Peter F. Wentzel, Clin- 
ton Graefif, David Saul, John Neff and Ephraim 
Sharadin. 




CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



157 



DRAMATIC CLUBS 



The Kutztowii Dramatic Club met in 
the parlor of the Black Horse Hotel, at 
the request of Thomas S. Levan. The ob- 
ject of this meeting was to frame histor}' of 
the first dramatic organization of Kutztown. 
for the Centennial History. 

The members present at this meeting were 
Thomas S. Levan, U. J. Miller. E. H. Hot- 
tenstein, C. W. Snvder, A. F. DeLong, Dr. 
E. K. Steckel, C. ' L G. Christman, A. S. 
Christ, C. W. Keiter, H. K. Deisher, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Humbert Miller, Mrs. Lou Neff 
Sharadin and Mrs. Annie' Wagenhorst 
Deisher. 

Thomas S. Levan acted as chairman of 
'.he meeting. H. K. Deisher was chosen as 
secretary. 

The club was organized in 1883 with the 
object of reading standard literature and 
give entertainments in select readings and 
recitations. Later the Kutztown Dramatic 
Club was formed, ' ( nick-named Kutztown 
Drowned Cats). 

The members were : 

Thomas S. Levan, Rev. George A. Kercher, 
Ulrich J. Miller, Ezra H. Hottenstein, Dr. Edward 
L. Hottenstein, Jr., Charles I. G. Christman, Alvin 
S. Christ, David Fister. .'\mandus F. DeLong-. 
Robert K. Berkemeyer. Francis M. Berkemeyer. 
Robert T. Fritch, Charles Wanner, Esq., Edward 
H. Eck, Hiram Hecknian, Tohn D. Frederick, 
Louis B. Reppert, Charles W. Snyder, Jacob B. 
Esser, Chas. W. Keiter, H. K. Deisher. Mrs. 
Elizabeth Humbert Miller, Mrs. Annie Wagen- 
horst Deisher. Mrs. Annie Kutz Seibert. Mrs, 
Louisa Neff Sharadin. Mrs. Mary Neff Berke- 
meyer, Mrs. Mary Christman Levan, Mrs. Louisa 
Weikusat Wild, Miss Eeniestine Wcikusat, Miss 
Irene Hinterleiter. 

The officers of the club were : Thomas 
S. Levan, manager and instructor; C. W. 
Snyder, artist : Dr. E. K. Steckel, property 
man ; Chas. W. Keiter, ticket man and ad- 
vertiser; Louis Reppert, chief usher, and 
Jacob B. Esser, press agent. 

Through the courtesy of the school board, 
the public school building was secured, there 
being no public hall in town. 

The first play rendered was "The Last 
Loaf," a drama in two acts, and the one 
act farce "Paddle Your Own Canoe," May 
I and 2, 1884. 

The characters of "The Last Loaf" were : 

Mark Ashton, a Silversmith A. S. Christ 

Caleb Hansom, a Baker Geo. A. Kercher 

Harry Hansom, his Son C. I. G. Christman 

Dick Bustle, a Journeyman Baker. . . .U. T. Miller 

Tom Chubbs, a Butcher R. K. Berkemeyer 

Kate Ashton, Mark's Wife 

Miss Elizabeth Humbert 



Lillie Ashton, their Daughter. . .Miss Lou E. Neff 
Patty Jones, a Yankee Girl. . .Miss Annie E. Kutz 

The characters of "Paddle Your Own 
Canoe," were : 

Dr. Rubber Dam, a Dentist .A. S. Christ 

Orpheus Beethoven Joyful, a Musician 

R. A. Fritch 

Christopher Croesus, a Nabob A. F. DeLong 

Bob Ridley (better known as Dr. Ridley), a 

Colored Boy R. K. Berkemeyer 

Buskin Socks, an Amateur Tragedian 

F. M. Berkemeyer 

Larry Lanigan an Irish Porter. . .Geo. .A.. Kercher 
Till Wah, a Chinese Laundryman 

L. E. Hottenstein 

Mrs. Morey, Dr. Dam's Landlady 

Miss Mary Christman 

Kate Croesus, Christopher's Daughter 

Miss Mary A. Neff 

Milly Morey, Mrs, Morey's Daughter 

Miss Ernestine Weikusat 

Orchestra — "Homer Orchestra was composed of 

Samuel Banner, T. T. Fritch, Solon A. Wan- 
ner and Horace Bast. 

A stage was constructed of hemlock 
boards in the Primary School room. The 
roller curtain was loaned by Trinity Luth- 
eran Church. The old kerosene lamps loan- 
ed by St. John's Union Church were used 
rt,^ foot lights. For entrance and exit to 
the stage a bridge was built outside from 
window to window to the Secondary School 
room. The scenery, which was to repre- 
sent a room, was draped with wall paper 
and lace curtains. 

The play took so well that it was re- 
peated three evenings. Patrons from Fleet- 
wood insisted the play be given in their 
town. When the advance agents arrived, 
the children ran from the street calling. 
"Mam, mam, de show leit sin do." 

W. G. Hinterleiter remodeled his store 
in 1885 and at the request of the club, he 
built a hall on the second floor. People re- 
marked, "Now Kutztown has a theater." 
The first play in the new hall was the two 
act drama, "The Boys of '76," followed by 
the one act farce, "John Schmidt." C. W. 
Snyder painted elaborate scenery, common 
ch.'^irs borrowed from the good neighbors 
were used as reserved seats, and backless 
benches served as ordinary seats, which 
were occupied three hours without signs of 
fatigue. A stout rone suspended from a 
rear window of the dressing room was to 
serve as a fire escape for the club mem- 
bers. 

The next play for the boards was "Ten 
Nights in a Bar Room," and was enjoyed 
by a full house. 

"LTncle Tom's Cabin," a drama in si.x 



158 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 





HIRAM HBCKMAN 
As "Topsy" in Uncle Tom's Cabin 



T. S. LBVAN 
As Uncle Tom, Flogged by Legree 





ELIZA'S ESCAPE 

Mrs. U. J. Miller and Charles R. 

Wanner, Esq., in Uncle Tom's 

Cabin 



TEN NIGHTS IN A BARROOM 

Showing Death of Little Mary. Mrs. 

Chas. Messersmith, T. S. Levan 

and Mrs. H. G. A. Smith 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



159 



acts, was the crowning success. It was 
played March 5, 6 and 9, 1886, to jammed 
houses. It was advertised to be rendered 
every Saturday evening till otherwise an- 
nounced. 

CHARACTERS 

Uncle Tom T. S. Levan 

George Harris, a Slave C. I. G. Christman 

George Shelb}', Tom's Young Master 

C. I. G. Christman 

Mr. St. Clare A. S. Christ 

Phineas Fletcher, a Quaker E. H. Hottenstein 

Gumption Cute, Ophelia's Relative 

E. H. Hottenstein 

Mr. Wilson G. A. Kercher 

Deacon Perrj', Ophelia's Lover.... G. A. Kercher 

Haley J. D. Frederick 

Simon Legree, Slave Trader J. D. Frederick 

Tom Loker, a Slave Hunter H. K. Deisher 

Col. Skeggs, an Auctioneer H. K. Deisher 

Marks, the Lawyer U. J. Miller 

Mr. Mann A. F. DeLong 

Ouimbo, a Slave R. T. Fritch 

Ouimbo, a Slave A. T. Fritch 

Waiter E. H. Eck 

Sambo, a Slave E. H. Eck 

Eva, St. Clare's Daughter Irene Hinterlciter 

Eliza, a Slave Miss Elizabeth E. Humbert 

Harrv, her Child Little Charlie Wanner 

Marie, St. Clare's Wife Miss Lou E. Neff 

Emeline, a Slave Miss Lou E. Neff 

Aunt Ophelia Miss Annie E. Kutz 

Cassie, a Slave Miss Annie Wagenhorst 

Aunt Chloe, Uncle Tom's Wife 

Miss Annie Wagenhorst 

Topsy Master Hiram Heckman 



The New Kutztown Dramatic Club, to 
distinguish it from the old Kutztown Dram- 
atic Club, was organized in the fall of the 
year of 1889. The club was organized in 
the old public school house. The object of 
the club was to continue the work of the 
former club, that of beautifying and enlarg- 
ing the mind with the study of the poets 
and depicting characters in the drama. The 
club consisted of the following members, 
all single at that time : 

Thos. S. Levan, leader and instructor ; Mrs. 
Jennie Donmoyer Messersmith, Mrs. Ella Drei- 
belbis Baer, Mrs. Annie Wagenhorst Deisher, 
Mrs. Katie Hefifner Ressler, Mrs. Anna Hotten- 
stein Hottenstein, Mrs. Beckie Fenstermacher 
Mar.x Mrs. Oneida Rahn Smith, Mrs. Annie 
Marx Ort, Miss Anna Hoover, Sam'l H. Heffner, 
Wm. F. Schoedler, Dr. H. W. Saul, E. M. Ang- 
stadt, C. E. Gehring, J. W. Sander, J. G. Kercher, 
E. H. Kercher, W. R. Sander, J. H. Schmoyer, 
W. C. C. Snyder, G. D. Humbert, D. B. Deisher, 
A. H. Fritch, W. J. Noble, E. M. Steckel, Q. D. 
Herman, C. W. Snyder, artist, and C. W. Keiter, 
ticket agent and advance agent. 

Ihe first plav given was entitled, "Among 
the Breakers," and was given in the new 
music hall, (so known at that time) which 
had been built by the "American Orches- 
tra," assisted by the club as part owners. 

This play proved such a great success 
that the club decided to continue the work 





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KUTZTOWN'S MUSIC HALL 
Recently Razed. Home of The New Dramatic Club 



Many social affairs were enjoyed durmg 
the club's career. The remuneration to the 
members was a fine gold badge. All are 
living but two, Mrs. Mary Christman Levan 
and David Fister. 

A pleasant evening was spent. Luncheon 
served by Mr. Thomas S. Levan was great- 
ly enjoyed by the attending members, after 
which the meeting was adjourned sine die. 



and the following plays were given, one 
each year, "The Dead Shot" and "Seeing 
the Elephant," (two farces), "Ten Nights 
in a Bar Room," East L.vnne," and "L^ncle 
Josh." 

The last three years of its existence the 
club paid an annual visit to East Green- 
ville where they played to crowded houses. 
On their home trips they enjoyed an ele- 



i6o 



CEXTENXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



g-ant dinner at Allentown. They called this 
trip their yearly outing. There were quite 
a number of social functions enjoyed by 
the club. Although twenty-six (26) years 
have passed since the club was organized, 
there has been but one death, that of jN'lr. 
John G. Kercher. 

The American Orchestra, that rendered 
excellent music during these entertainments 
consisted of the following: J- F- Fritch, 
Leader ; Llewellyn Angstadt. Samuel H. 
Heffner, E. J. Eshelman, C. E. Gehring, E. 
M. x\ngstadt, C. J. Leibensperger, Z. K. 
:Merkel, T- H. Angstadt, T- W. Sander and 
R. A. Fritch. 

Olympian Dramatic Club 

Li 1899 the Olympian Dramatic Club was 
organized by a number of young folks in 



Barney Wm. S. Rhodi; 

Miss Agnes Belmont Mrs. Q. D. Herman 

Miss Ida Lovewell Mrs. S. B. Ammons 

Miss Pricilla Peterson .... Miss Sallie C. Marx 

Deceased 

A strong play entitled "Strife, or Master 
and ]\Ien," was presented in January 1901, 
by some of the old members of the dramatic 
club and the necessary addition of several 
new ones. There were two colored men, 
a Dutchman, two comical old men, etc. As 
the name of the play indicates the plot was 
directed upon strike and labor 1 roubles. 
The title, however, does not indi.:ate the 
amount of comedy sprinkled thioughout 
the play. 

Mrs. Frank SmoU was the instructor 
and the play was presented in Kntztown, 
Pennsburg and Boyertown to packed hous- 
es. The characters were ; 




THE O'LY'MPIAX DRAMATIC CLUB 



this borough. The first production was a 
comedy drama entitled "The Soldier of For- 
tune." The play was presented in Music 
Hall, Kutztown, in April 1899. It took 
so well that it was repeated shortly after- 
wards. Mrs. Frank Smoll, formerly Miss 
Daisy B. Harkey, daughter of the late Dr. 
S. L. Harkey, former pastor of Trinity 
Lutheran church, who has considerable elo- 
cutionary ability, was the instructor. The 
cast of characters follows : 

Col. Fitznoodle Bernard Schmehl 

Mr. Patroni. the villian Howard S. Sharadm 

Mr. Belmont Dr. Edgar J. Stein 

Cyril Clifford Lieut. Richard J. Herman 

Dr. Fargo \\'alter S. Dietrich 

Freddie Belmont Arthur B. Hinterleiter 

Snowhall Francis E. Sharadiii 



Judge Henry Buttons, a retired judge and mill 
owner Quinton D. Herman 

Harold Thomas, the villian Wm. S. Rhode 

Henry Hansell, a noble specimen of young man- 
hood Paul A. Herman 

,\ristotle Tompkins and Horatio Squash, intimate 

friends of the judge 

Tohn Morgan and Paul Herman 

Hans Von Staudt, the cook 

O. Raymond Grimley 

Julius and Neb, two negro servants 

Francis E. Sharadin and Louis V. Hottenstein 

Laura Bell, the judges' ward 

Charlotte Kramlich 

Mrs. Hansell, Henry's mother 

Mrs. Elmer Maurer 

Dollv, a housemaid Mrs. Bert E. Moritz 

Mary Harris Victoria .Schwoyer 

Policeman, Mob of Strkers, Etc. 
Location — Wheeling. West Virginia. 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



i6i 



Thomas S. Levan was manager and in- 
structor of the Old Dramatic Club, and 
through his instrumentality the organization 
was started and maintained. He is a son 




Thomas S. Levan 

of Col. Daniel R. Levan, deceased. He was 
born and raised at Kutztown, and his fam- 
ily, of French Huguenot descent, is one of 



the oldest and best known in the county. 
Mr. Levan received his education in the 
public schools of his native town and at 
the Keystone State Normal School. 

After leaving school he was engaged in 
business for some time in Reading and later 
carried on a successful business in New 
York. He afterwards sold out and took a 
course in one of New York's best training 
schools. Mr. Levan has a wide reputation 
as an elocutionist. A number of years ago 
he filled various engagements in that capa- 
city and frequently took part in amateur 
performances of local theatrical companies 
in his native town and Reading. For quite 
a number of 5'ears he was the indefatigable 
manager, instructor, and trainer of the Old 
Kutztown Dramatic Club and had unusually 
flattering success. He taught very success- 
full}^ some fifty young ladies and gentle- 
ment of Kutztown not only in elocution but 
also in the mysteries of modern stage work. 
Mr. Levan has played in some of our lead- 
ing theatrical companies. 

He takes a great interest in secret orders 
and besides being oast district grand chief 
of the K. G. E. for six terms, is a past 
master of Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, F. 
and A. M. He is treasurer and a heavy 
stockholder of the Saucony Shoe Manu- 
facturing Companv, and a member of the 
LT. E. Church and he has been the sunerin- 
tendent of its Sunday School for fifteen 
vears. 



THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 



[Extracts from Gehring's Speech in Patriot] 

Centennial Monument — The cost was two 
hundred and fifty dollars. Of this sum, 
Mr. Wentz himself subscribed seventy-five . 
dollars, and the remainder was collected in 
town and in the Normal School by Mrs. Dr. 
Charles H. Wanner and the Misses Alesa 
Helfrich and Harriet B. Swineford. On 
the four larger sides of the die the follow- 
ing mottoes are inscribed, which were se- 
lected by a committee consisting of Rev. 
Prof. Home, Prof. John S. Ermentrout and 
County Superintendent Samuel A. Baer. 

On the north side— "Unscr Prei Schul 
'cvesa kutnt fim da Pennsilfozi'iiish Deitsha 
har. Dcr Govancr Wolf hat's gcplant tin 
der Ritiiei- un der Sluink hen's ausge- 
fuchrt'' 



On the south — "Nee seire fas est ommia:' 

On the east — " Wie Gottniit uiisernl'aet- 
ern zvar, so sei er auch niit mis." 

On the west — "Virtue, L,ibcrty and Inde- 
pendence." 

The monument was unique in that the 
inscriptions were in Pennsylvania Dutch, 
Latin, German and English. At the time 
of re-dedication the Latin inscription was 
removed and there was inscribed on the 
same panel : "This nwnuinent zvas ereeted 
on the K. S. N. S. Campus, July 4, 1876. 
Removed and Rc-dcdicatcd in the Kutz- 
tozvn Pari?. 1907. 

At the time of its erection on the Normal 
School Campus the following articles were 
deposited in, that part of the monument on 
which the spire rests : 



l62 



CENTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



"The history of Kutztown and Maxa- 
tawny; the latest newspapers of the coun- 
ty ; ancient coins ; ahnanacs and coins of 
1876; a catalogue of the Normal School 
for 1876; the names of contributors to the 
monument : and the late census of Kutz= 
town, continental script and a silver quarter 
dated 1776, donated by A. J. Fogel." 

From address of Conrad Gehritig at the 
rc-dcdication of the monument, August 11, 
1907: 

As I said before, when in 1876 the nation 
celebrated the one hundredth anniversary 
of American Independence, Kutztown was 
in line with the cities. It was the most 
elaborate demonstration I saw during the 
32 years I spent in the dear old town. Pat- 
riotism was at high tide and the waves 
roared and dashed and foamed and lapped 
in a manner to carry with them even the 
most blunted souls. IMain Street was one 
mass of people, who had poured into the 
town from early morning. There wasn't 
a house that wasn't gaily decorated in the 
national colors and Old Glory nodded and 
waved and fluttered from roofs, windows, 
verandas, steeples, coat lapels, and hats. 
Everybody was joyful and everyone in a 
shouting mood. The marchers faced a glar- 
ing sun and clouds of dust, but that didn't 
dampen their ardor, except that some look- 
ed as limp as a sweat-soaked collar b_v the 
time it was all over. 

The order of procession as it appeared in 
the Kutztown Journal will give you an 
idea of the magnitude of the narade : 

Chief Marshal, Dr. J. S. Trexler. 

Marshal's Aids, Z. "T. Miller. Wm. C. 
Dietrich, Wm. D. Gross, N. S. Schmehl, J. 
D. Sharadin, D. W. Sheridan, Geo. Eason 
and Philip Kline. 

Ringing Rock Cornet Band, of Fleet- 
wood. 

Chief Burgess S. S. Schmehl and Ora- 
tors in carriages. 

Liberty Car, with thirteen girls dressed 
in white, representing the Original Colon- 
ies, grouped around the Goddess of Liberty, 
drawn bv four horses of John Bieber. 

Gen. Geo. Washington and Lady Martha 
Washington (represented by Albert A. Ad- 
am and Mrs. H. ]\I. Cloud) and two colored 
attendants, all on horseback. 

Second Liberty Car with 38 girls dressed 
in white , bearing shields representing the 
States of the L'nion, drawn by George 
Kutz's four stately greys. 

Greenwich Cornet Band, Prof. N. P. 
Kistler, leader. 

ToDton's large delegation, consisting of 
Red ]\Ien, Knights of the Mystic Chain and 
Knights of Pythias, with E. J. S. Hoch as 
marshal!. 



Maidencreek Cornet Band. 

Harugari's and Jr. O. L'. A. ^I. of Kutz- 
town. 

Trexlertown Band. 

Citizens in carriages. 

The day was ushered in with a salute of 
one hundred guns at 4 o'clock in the morn- 
ing and at the same time a drum corps 
paraded the town. 

At 7 o'clock a centennial service was held 
in the Normal School Chapel, when the 
princioal. Rev. Dr. A. R. Home, preached 
an eloquent sermon and a specially organ- 
ized Centennial Choir, under the direction 
of the late Dr. Wm. Stettler, led the sing- 
ing. At the conclusion of the services this 
monument was raised. The foundation and 
base had previously been laid and the shaft 
hung in midair suspended from the rope of 




a tlerrick, ready to be swung into ]josition. 
This was done under the supervision of 
Philip Wenz, the granite dealer and marble 
cutter, who had been awarded the contract 
for the monument. 

The lamented Prof. J. S. Ermentrout, 
who was the historian of the association 
and who had written an interesting pamph- 
let entitled "History of Kutztown and Max- 
atawny," placed the customary articles into 
the box of the monument, which I under- 
stand has been wisely preserved and is 
again within the base of the monument. 

Prof. S. A. Baer, chairman of the Monu- 
ment Committee, presented the monument 
to S. S. Schmehl, president of the Centen- 
nial Association, who in turn turned it over 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



163 



into the care of the board of trustees of the 
Keystone State Normal School. 

It would be taxing your patience too 
much to go into all the details of the day, 
so I will cut the story short. 

The spectacular parade marched over to 
this place which was then a picnic ground 
known as Kemp's Grove. Here a speaker's 
stand and seats had been erected and here 
Judge Sassaman, of Reading, delivered an 
eloquent oration and Senator M. S. Hen- 
ninger, of Allentown, read an original Penn= 
sylvania German poem entitled "En Hun- 
nert Johr Zurick." 

After the ceremonies the multitude was 



fed from supplies furnished free by the Cen- 
tennial Association. The multitude num- 
bered about three thousand, and there was 
nothing left and even not all were filled. 

In the course of the afternoon a burlesque 
parade took place in which a company of 
120 "Mulligan Guards," masked and car- 
rying wooden guns with tin bayonets, form- 
ed the leading feature. Besides there were 
in the grotesque procession a band with tin 
instruments, makinp" strange but loud music, 
an improvised elephant, a bear and other 
fantastic features. This greatly amused the 
crowd and roars of laughter went up along 
the line. 




"KUTZTOWN, THE HUB OF OPPORTUNITY" 



Slogans are all the rage these days. A 
town such as ours is, should have a slogan. 
It has one — the one shown here. This 
slogan, on the suggestion of Wm. S. Rhode, 
President of the Kutztown Publishing Com- 
pany, was chosen from some three dozen or 
more rallying cries, as 
being peculiarly suitable 
to Kutztown. The town 
is situated in the center 
of the East Penn Valley, 
one of the fairest, rich- 
est valleys in the land, 
and midway between the 
cities of Allentown and 
Reading. As in olden 




times all roads led to Rome, so now-a-days, 
many important roads center in Kutztown. 
Kutztown is not the hub of the universe, 
not the center of the state, or even of the 
county — it might have been had the efforts 
to make the town the county seat of Penn 
county ninety years and more ago been suc- 
cessful — but it is the "hub of oppoitunity," 
that is, a center to which concenter many 
lines of social, civil, industrial, and educa- 
tional activity. 

The slogan adopted by the Kutztown 
Board of Trade in 1914, is being extensive- 
ly used, and with satisfactorily results, in 
calling attention to the various opportunities 
ailorded by our town. 



THE ROLL OF HONOR 



The names of the following persons, 
members of the Kutztown Centennial As- 
sociation, having contributed one or more 
dollars annually for the entire period of the 
existence of the Association, were, by reso- 
lution of that body, placed upon this Roll 
of Honor : 



Dr. H. W. Saul 
A. S. Heffner 
Rev. .1. J. Cres.sman 
Wm. F. Stimmel 
Jas. S. Heffner 
A. S. Christ 
Pierce S. Schell 



Rev. W. W. Deatrick 
H. A. Fister 
J. B. Esser 
.Arthur Bonner 
Rev. H. A. Kline 
Thomas S. Levan 
C. W. Miller 



Chas. D. Herman 

Rev. R. B. Lynch 

E. P. DeTurk 

Sam. H. Heffner 

N. S. Schmehl 

,T. H. Marx 

j. P. S. Fenstermacher 

C. I. G. Christman 

H. K. Deisher 

Sell D. Kutz 

Dr. N. Z. Dunkelberger 

Mrs. Maggie Christ 

Dr. C. A. Hottenstein 

Walt. B. Bieber 

Cvrus J. Rhode 

Nicolas M. Rahn 



Victor H. Houser 
John A. Schwoyer 
M. T. Donraoyer 
T. D. Sharadin 
Zach, C. Hoch 
Wm. B. Schaefer 
E. K. Steckel, M. D. 
U. T. Miller 

D. L. Wartzenluft 
Dr. E. J. Sellers 

E. L. Schatzline 
A. M. Herman 
T. T. Fritch 
Tohn Hinterleiter 
C. W. Snyder 

Dr. U. S. G. Bieber 



164 



CENTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



Ed. Slonecker 
Wm. P. Kutz 
Clem. J. Stichler 
W. S. Dietrich 
Fred. A. Moyer 
Daniel M. Saul 
Ezra H. Hottenstein 
Llewellyn Angstadt 
William H. Livengood 
Katie Heffner Ressler 
Geo. C. Bordner 
James O. Herman 
Quinton D. Herman 
Samuel J. Dries 

A. K. Lesher 
James Schaefer 
J. B. Keiter 

C. L. Gruber 
Geo. P. Angstadt 
Wm. D. Yoder 
C. S. Siegfried 

B. D. Druckenmiller 
Howard S. Sharadin 
P. F. Moyer 



Wm. S. Rhode 
Chas. A. Frey 
Francis E. Sharadin 
Dan. A. Dries 
R. D. Sharadin 
Rev. Geo. B. Smith 
George Rhode 
I. B. Stein and Son 
Worth A. Dries 
Thomas W. Sharadin 
George Glasser 
William S. Kutz 
Wilson B. Kutz 
Elizabeth E. Miller 
Howard D. Kutz 
W. W. Feick and Co. 
Isaac Grimley 
Wm. S. Christ 
O. Raymond Grimley 
Geo. A. Schlenker 
H. W. Sharadin 
Fred. N. Baer 
Byron A. Stein 
Paul A. Herman 



Rev. F. K. Bernd 
Roger M. Rentschler 
William F. Schoedler 
B. M. Deibert 
Geo. W. Ramer 
Harry B. \''oder 
John F. Angstadt 
Wm. E. Myers 



J. F. Weidenhammer 

Charles Herbine 

Chas. S. Arnold 

Oscar Moyer 

Horace Schmehl 

Walter C. C. Snyder 

Lawson G. Dietrich 

Augustus G. Wink 

F. H. Moser, Redland, Ca! 

John Z. Harner, Bovertown, Pa. 

Rev. M. J. Bieber, Halifax, N. S. 

J. J. Stigman, Los Angeles, Cal. 

Mrs. Morris D. Trexler, Topton, Pa. 

Lieut. Richard J. Herman, Philippine Islands 

H. H. Ahrens, Reading, Pa. 

Tillie B. Gravat, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Jno. W. Gravat. Philadelphia, Pa. 

Nicholas J. Kutz. Fleetwood. Pa. 

Dr. A. C. Rothermel. K. S. N. S. 

Rev. Charles C. Boyer, K. S. N. S. 

Jno. W. Sander, Allentown, Pa. 

Harry A. Taylor, Annville, Pa. 

Dr. Albert J. Kutz, Northampton, England 

Rosa A. Christ, Philadelphia, Pa. 



ODDS AND ENDS OF HISTORY 



Some Early Teachers in Kutztown 

Besides the teachers mentioned elsewhere 
the following are said to have taught in 
town in the early days. 

A Mr. Brockway is remembered by some 
elderly persons as having taught in the old 
parochial school house. 

Mr. Leidy, who came from Philadelphia 
taught the boys. He is said to have married 
a Miss Kutz, daughter of Peter Kutz and 
sister to Charles Kutz. 

About the saine time Miss Fehling, com- 
ing here from Easton, taught the girls in 
the Snyder house, now occupied by C. W. 
Snyder, photographer. She married the 
Rev. Mr. Lukens, spoken of elsewhere. 

Miss Catharine Bunnell, an Irish lass, 
also from Easton, taught in the Snyder 
house for several years, then went to Ham- 
burg, where she became the wife of a Mv. 
Boehm, a hotel keeper. 

The Rev. Charles Lukens married jN'Iiss 
Fehling. After his marriage he remained 
a year or two in Kutztown, then went to 
the neighborhod of Germantown, where he 
opened a boarding school. It is related of 
him that each evening, before dismissin.c; 
his school, he would dictate memory gems 
to his pupils. 

Of the Academy teachers Mr. Storv was 
a Xew Englander, while Mr. Hill came here 
from Philadelphia. 



Fell Dead at a Battalion 
A story told by an aged friend, illustra- 
tive somewhat of the customs of the com- 
munit}' on battalion days is to the effect 
that quite a commotion occurred when on 
one of those days a lady from Greenwich 
fell dead while on the dancing floor at 
Kutztown. 

E.^RLY Stone Masons 
Peter Kutz, grandfather of Dr. E. K. 
Steckel, was one of the early stone masons 
of the town. Henry Nefif, father of Mrs. 
Elizabeth Wynne, was another worker in 
the same craft. These two men were mas- 
ter workmen. They built the old two-arch 
stone bridge which led Main street across 
the Saucony. Both men labored together 
on the foundation walls of the old (lo^, 
weatherboarded) St. John's Church. They 
also built the old parochial school house, 
and the wall around the old St. John's ceme- 
tery was their handiwork. 

The Story oe a Bake Shop 
The Walt. B. Bieber (now Wm. S. 
Christ ) store building was built by Neff and 
Kutz, pioneer stone masons, for a Mr. Wil- 
son. But Wilson had gone beyond his 
means. Failure followed and the new build- 
ing was sold to satisfy the creditors. It 
was bought at Sheriflf's sale by Mrs. Sam- 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



165 



uel Bast, who had to borrow the money to 
paj' the sheriff his fourteen hundred dol- 
lars, ($1400.00). But she was a dauntless 
and resourceful woman. She started a bake 
shop. She borrowed a bag of flour for the 
first baking. Little by little she earned and 
saved enough to pay the borrowed mone}'. 
Joshua Bieber, father of the late Walter 
B. Bieber, started store keeping in the front 
room of the building. He fell in love with 
and married the daughter of Mr. and Mrs 
Samuel Bast. 

Sports in Oldbn Days 
As far back as we have any records Kutz- 
town has had among its citizens nvunerous 
and enthusiastic sportsmen. In those days 
game was much more plentiful than it is 
now. It is related that J acob ( better known 
as "Squire") Graeff, shot the last bear in 
this section. Some residents of Greenwich 
township came into town with a report 
that a big bear was seen rambling around 
on the Jacob Kohler farm. Squire Graeff, 
with one companion, started in pursuit ot 
bruin. They chased him up a tall chestnut 
tree from which he was finally dislodged 
by a well-directed shot from the Squire'.t. 
gun. The might}^ hunters brought theii 
trophy home and for many years the claws 
of the bear could be seen hanging on the 
outside of the barn door in the rear of D. 
A. G. Wink's home on Main street. 

But bear-hunting was not the only sport 
for the old hunters. Tradition has it that 
Jonathan Grim was a great fox hunter and 
always kept a pack of fox hounds. He later 
met his end while on a fishing trip at Diet- 
rich's Mill, being drowned in what was 
then known as the "Devil's Hole." 

In the early forties there was a tre 
mendous flight of passenger pigeons over 
this county. The birds were so numerous, 
that "they darkened the sun," and many 
were caught in nets. The woodland on 
the John Kemp farm (now the Kutztown 
Park) was a favorite resting place for 
migratory birds but on this occasion they 
taxed the trees to their capacity, and it is 
related that many of the smaller branches 
were broken down by the weight of the 
roosting pigeons. The birds were doubtless 
attracted by the many buckwheat fields in 
this section while migrating south to the 
rice fields of the Carolinas. It is also said 
that the pigeons were slaughtered by "the 
bushel basketful" by local gunners. There 
were later flights of these pigeons through 
here but none so great as the one above 
referred to. It is remarkable that a species 
of birds once so numerous could have be- 
come practically extinct. There is at pres- 
ent a standing oft'er from the Smithsonian 



Institution at Washington of $10,000 for 
a single pair of these particular pigeons 
Like the buffalo of the western plains, these 
birds have fallen a prey to ruthless pot- 
hunters. 

Many years ago, too, all the streams of 
this section were literally teeming with fish, 
the wily trout, of course, predominating, 
the rainbow trout, now so rare, being then 
especially abundant. At that time every 
one was a fisherman. A reminiscent fish- 
erman tells that it was the custom, im- 
mediately after harvest, for the farmers to 
gather along the streams for their "yaerlich 
wesh-tag," at which time the day was spent 
in bathing and fishing. They always re- 
turned with "big catches." 

Kutztown As a Show Town 

Among the famous show towns of Penn- 
sylvania in early years Kutztown occupied 
a position in the front rank. There were 
few traveling shows that did not stop here. 
Among the most prominent of these were : 
Sands-Nathan Co., Howe Brothers, Barnum 
and Howe's Museum, Durj^ea's Circus, P. 
T. Barnum's "greatest show on earth," Ad- 
am Forepaugh, and Dan Rice. The latter 
started out with a trained pig, and while 
here Rice asked Judge Heidenreich to loan 
him a milk-white horse to transport his 
show to Rothrocksville, but the showman 
never returned the horse. Some years later, 
however, after he had become quite famous 
in the show world, he returned here with his 
big show and surprised the judge by pre- 
senting him with a brand new outfit — horse, 
buggy and harness. The "milk-white" 
horse which Rice secured from Judge Heid- 
enreich was later the trained horse of the 
show. 

These frequent shows were a great at- 
traction to the natives and many folks 
walked as far as to Breinigsville to meet 
the wagons and walked back to town with 
the show. 

Early CouNTERFeiTURS 
Few people, possibly, know of the coun- 
terfeiters who operated in and around Kutz- 
town in the late forties and early fifties. 
The bad money was coined in an old stone 
building which is still standing near Temple, 
in Muhlenberg township. This house was 
known as the "Alsace Bank." This spurious 
money was put out under an oak tree which 
stood on the old Fair Grounds, now tht. 
property of the Kutztown Improvement 
Company. 

In July, 1852, while cradling wheat, 
George Humbert, one of the men employed 
by Benjamin Kutz, discovered a quantity of 
imitation silver mone\- in an abandoned wel! 



1 66 



CEXTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



on Mr. Kiitz's farm. Amos Rhode and 
Samuel Marx, father of the late J. H. Marx, 
went into the well and brought up the coin 
which amounted to $120.00. The monev 
was taken to Joshua Bieber, an authority 
on numismatics, who pronounced it counter- 
feit. The money was afterwards taken to 
the office of the Gcisf der Zcit, where Mr. 
Hawrecht also pronounced spurious. The 
fact that the money had been found was 
advertised extensively but, of course, no 
one ever claimed it. 

An Old Well 
Draw well — "standing on south side of 
the aforementioned Great or High Road, on 
the said several acres and one hundred and 
twelve perches of land, and opposite of the 
dwelling house of the said Frederick Hit- 
tie," sold to Dewald Kutz by Frederick 
and Maria Hittle (deed dated April i, 
1795) reserved as to free and unobstructed 
use for Leonerd Rishel and his heirs as well 
as for Hittle and his heirs. ^ 

How Fire was Made in Olden Times 
John F. Kohler, an aged resident of 
town, remembers that prior to 1843 h^ 
fetched live coals (charcoal) from Joe 
Kutz's to rekindle the kitchen fire so that 
breakfast might be made. If there were 
yet any live coals among the ashes on the 
hearth in the morning then splints dipped 
in sulphur were used to restart the fire ; 
otherwise live coals had to be brought from 
the nearest neighbor. When sulphur match- 
es first came into use the}' were considered 
highly dangerous. They were called 
"schwevelkep." This explains the action of 
Kutztown Borough Council, Sept. 9, 1833, 
which imposed a fine of $5.00 for the selling 
or keeping for sale of any combustible 
matches, and like articles. 

A Maxatawny Slave 
Unlike their English and Irish neighbors 
the earl}' Germans of this section seldom 
owned colored servants or slaves. I. D. 
Rupp says that "Berks, a German county, 
having a population of 30,179, in 1790, had 
only 65 slaves, in the ratio of one to 464 
whites. Cumberland county, originally set- 
tled by Scotch-Irish, with a population in 

'So in deed executed April i, 1795 by Frederick 
and Maria Hittle to Dewald Kutz. 



1790 of 15,655, had 360 slaves, in the ratio 
of one of 44 whites." So far as known the 
only slave ever kept in this immediate sec- 
tion was one, Hannah by name, who was 
the servant of George Keinp, son of Theo- 
bald (Dewalt) Keinp, the iinmigrant ances- 
tor of the Kemp family. Both father and 
,«cn resided on what was the Nathan S. 
Kemp farm, on which, in the private ceme- 
tery, the negro woman is buried. 

Governor Edward Y. Miller 
Lieutenant Edward Y. Miller, Military 
Governor of the Palawan Islands, in the 
Philippines, was drowned on May 27, 1910, 
aged 39 years. Deceased served in the 
Spanish-American war. Later he entered 
the regular army as Second Lieutenant and 
advanced to the rank of captain. The 
Governor was not aware of his new title, 
captain, as his commission had not reached 
him when he was drowned. 

He governed 34,000 semi-civilized peo- 
ple, who lived with him as a brother and 
master combined. He ruled them by the 
sheer force of his personality and thus ac- 
complished in many ways what a host of 
regulars could not have done. 

Governor Miller was born and reared in 
Kutztown. He was a graduate of the Key- 
stone State Normal School, and a son of 
Zach. T. Miller, who long ago left our town 
for the west. The deceased is survived by 
his widow (nee Florence Geehr) and one 
son, Gordon Geehr Miller. 

An Incident of the Revolution 
A story was told by the late Nathan 
Kemp (son of George W. Kemp, son of 
Daniel Kemp, son of George Kemp, son 
of Dewalt Kemp) to the effect that the 
four-horse team of George Kemp, was im- 
pressed by Continental soldiers passing this 
way. The hired man went along with the 
team. In three weeks the man returned 
bringing the big horse whip with him but 
not the team. 

Sp.xnish-American War VoluntkERS 
The names of the Spanish-American Vol- 
unteers froin Kutztown in 1898 were: Mos- 
es Reimert, Levi Sassaman, Geo. N. Smith, 
Samuel Schmehl, (deceased), William Lei- 
bv. Howard Geiger, Edward Yenser, and 
Wm. L. Scheldt. 



Centennial Committees 



Biographical and Industrial 
Department 



HISTORICAL COMMITTEE 





Dr. W. W. Deatrick 
Chairman 



Zach C. Hoch 



Wm. S. Rhode Rev. John Baer Stoudt 





I. L. DeTurk 



H. K. Deisher 



Rev. F. K. Bernd 




Wilson B. Kntz 



EDUCATIONAL DAY COMMITTEE 






Prof. Geo. C. Bordner 



Roger M. Rentschler 
Chairman 



Harry B. Yoder 



AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL DAY COMMITTEE 






Clarence S. Siegfried 



Wm. F. Schoedler 
Chairman 

168 



Andrew J. Seidel 



FIREMEN'S DAY COMMITTEE 




Will. S. Christ 





Chas. D. Herman 
Chairman 



Horace Schmehl 



CHURCH DAY COMMITTEE 






Rev. R.- B. Lynch Rev, E. H. Leinbach Rev. Geo. B. v=mith Rev. S. N. Dis.singer 





Dr. A. C. Rothermel 



Rev. J. W, Bittncr 







Rev. J. O, Schlenkcr Dr. George S. Krcsslcy Rev. D. P. Longsdorf Dr. C. C. Boycr 



169 



FRATERNITY DAY COMMITTEE 






William F. Schick 
Secretary 



Harvey P. Boger 
Chairman 



Jos. A. Hancy 
Treasurer 



DECORATING AND ILLUMINATING COMMITTEE 




C. W. Snyder 
Chairman 




Samuel J. Dries 



Richard D. Sharadin 




Clem. J. Stichler 



FINANCE COMMITTEE 






Chas. A. Stein , , ,, . , ^ 

Chairman Geo. A. Schlcnker Dr. C. A. Hottenstem Llewellyn Angstadt 



HISTORICAL DAY COMMITTEE 




Sam. H. Htffner 
Chairman 




V. H. Mauser 



F. T. Williamson 




Geo. W. Bieber 



170 



READING AND ALLENTOWN DAY COMMITTEE 

U. J. Miller William S. Rhode 

Chairman 



Chas. T, a. Chi-istman 



Chas. D. Herman 



TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE 

C. C. Deibert 
Chairman 



U. J. Miller 



RECEPTION COMMITTEE 



Thomas S. Levan 
Chairman 

Dr. E. K. Steck-el 
Rev. S. N. Dissinger 
Samuel H. Heffner 



Wm. S. Rhode 

W. F. Schick 

Chas. D. Herman 

Wm. F. Schoedler 

Dr. H. W. Saul 

A. S. Heffner 



H. A. Fister 
Arthur Bonner 

Rev. R. B. Lynch 
V. H. Hauser 
E. P. DeTurk 

Wm. B. Schaeffer 



Dr. N. Z. Dunkelbergcr 

Rev. Geo. B. Smith 

A. S. Christ 

W. S. Dietrich 

C. W. Snyder 

Roger M. Rentschler 



Q. D. Herman, Member of Finance Committee 



C. D. Herman, Member of Decorating Committee 




HEFFNER-DIETRICH COMPANY 

of Kutztown, manufacturers of rye and wheat flour and dealers in coal, lumber and mill work, 
are the biggest concern in their line in this locality. The business had its inception in 1869, 
starting under the firm name of Gonser & Heffner. Later James S. Heffner took sole charge of 
the plant and conducted it up to the time of his death in 1909, when his son, Samuel H., be- 
came the proprietor. The business increased continually and in 19 13 the present company was 
formed, composed of Samuel H. Heffner, Lawson G. Dietrich, Calvin Dietrich and Irvin 
Dietrich. 

The daily capacity of the plant is one hundred barrels of wheat and fifty barrels rye. 

171 




REV. F. K. BERND 

Rev. F. K. Bernd is the present pastor of what 
is known as the Maxatawny-Mertztown Parish, a pan 
of the parish formerly served hy the late Kev. B. E. 
Kvamlic'h. A native of Bsypt, Lehigh county, Rev. 
'Sir. Kernel has spent all hut twelve years, since 1867, 
in this place. His first years' were spent as a student 
in the Normal School. 17 years as Professor iu the 
same institution and the last fifteen as pastor of the 
above named parish. From Muhlenberg College he 
received the honorary title of A. M., and served as 
President of the Reading- Conference of the Mini&terium 
of Pennsylvania for three years. He lives with his 
family on Normal Hill. 




KEV. ALPKED M. STUMP 

of 121 South 11th St.. Easton. Pa., was born Decem- 
ber 23, 1S84, at Schofer's, Maxatawny township. Berks 
county. Pa. lie is a son of John K. and Mrs. Cath- 
erine Stumip. of Park Ave.. Kutztown. lie was mar- 
ried on August 2. 1911, to Miss Anna P. Burkhart. of 
Pottsville, Pa. A son. Alfred M. Stump, Jr., was 
born October 30. ]91.^. Rev. Stump graduated at the 
Keystone State Normal School. Kutztown. in 1902. 
and taught in the public schools for two years. He 
graduated at Muhlenberg College in 1908 and the Mt. 
Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1911. He ac- 
cepted a call to the pastorate of the Washingtonville 
Evangelical Lutheran Church, and on NoveniTer 1. 
1912, began the present pastorate of St. Luke's Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church, at Easton. Pa. 





SAMUEL HUGO SCHEIDT 

of 219 West Franklin Ave., Lansing. Mich., was born 
in Kutztown, August 26. 1S6S. His parents were 
Harry Scheldt and Susanna (nee Kntz) Scheidt. The 
subject of this sketch left Kutztown April 1, 1896. He 
was married to Hannah C. Kline. They have the fol- 
lowing children : Pearl S., Hcarn, aged 24 years, and 
Linda A., aged 19 years. 

Mr. Scheidt says: "Since I have left the old home 
I have made good: I have a nice home on one of the 
principal streets of the city, and I have one of the 
nii'cst cafes and restaurants in the middle west." 



WALTER S. DIETRICH 

of Kutztown. was born May 20. 1879, at Grimsville, 
I'a. His parents are Charles H. Dietrich and Susan 
M. (nee Grim) Dietrich. Mr. Dietrich was educated 
in the borough schools and graduated from the Key- 
stone State Normal School, class of 1896 ; Eastman's 
Business College. Poughkeepsie. N. Y.. in 1897. The 
same year he entered the employ of the Kutztown 
Foundry and Machine Company as book-keeper. Sev- 
eral years ago he was advanced to the important posi- 
tion of accountant and office manager. On July 28, 
1903, Mr. Dietrich was married to Miss Gertrude A. 
Gehring. The union was blessed with three sons 
ranging in age as follows: B. Gehring, aged 8 years, 
Daniel Grim, 6 ; William Conrad, 4. 



172 





HARRY B. YOBER 

Kutztowu. was born October 21, 1SS9, being a son of 
Williami D., and his Avife, Annie (nee Barto) Yoder. 
He is a graduate of the Kutztown High School, class 
of 1904; Keystone State Normal School, Ivutztown, in 
1907. He studied at State College during the siim- 
mier of 1914, and at Muhlenberg College 1914-1915. 
Mr. Yoder taught school a numbei' of terms and is at 
present assistant principal of the puTDJic schools of 
Kutztown. He was married to Miss Florence O. Esser, 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Esser. The union was 
blessed with one daughter, Doris Helen, aged ten 
months. 



WILLIAM S. GABY 

Kutztown, was born September 6, 1S90, in Rockland 
township. His parents are Samuel Gaby and wife, 
Catharine (nee Seip) . By occunation Mr. Gaby is a 
shoemaker and a thorough mechanic at his trade. He 
was educated in the public school at Bowers and is a 
member of the Reformed Church at the same place, 
and Kutztown Aerie, No. S39, Fraternal Order of 
Eagles, of Kutztown. He is employed with the Key- 
stone Shoe Manufacturins^ Co. Mr. Gaby is also the 
leader of the Kutztown Drum Corps. 





ALLEX A. SCIIUCKER 

of Kutztown, was born December 19, 1854. in Green- 
wich township, t-eing a son of Jacob Schucker and 
his wife, Caroline (nee Wiltrout). The union was 
tilessed with one daughter, Annie E. Schucker, aged 
34 years, now Mrs. Otis Hartmau. By occupation 
Mr. Schucker is a mason and is a member of Max- 
atawny Ziou's Church, having served the congre- 
gation as elder for a number of years. Mr. Schucker 
served his township in the capacity of school director 
in 1901 and assisted in the erection of the Bagle- 
point schoolhouse. At present he is the road super- 
visor of Kutztown, having served in this office since 
1911. His home is' located on Greenwich street. 



JOHX L. CRESS>L\X 

of 342 South 13th St.. Harrisburg, Pa., was born Octo- 
ber 20, 1S70. at Easton. I'a. He is a son of Rev. 
John J. and Emma C. M. Cressman. Mr. Cressman 
left here October 7, 1895, and is engaged as a railwav 
postal clerk. He was married to Katie M. Foose, 
which union was blessed with the followinE' children: 
Ellen Margaret, wife of Rev. C. K. Fegely. agtd 23 
years; Mary Catharine, aged IS years; Arline Naomi, 
aged 7 months. Esther Ruth, agfd (3 years, and 
John Luther, aged 9 months, departed this life. Mr. 
Cressman was graduated at the Keystone State Normal 
School in 1889. He took post-graduate work and 
taught ten terms in the public schools. 



173 



THE STEIN FAMILY 

DISTILLERS FOR FOUR GENERATIONS 





JACOB STKIX 

distiller and farmei', was born in 1791 in Greenwich 
townsliio. Berlts county, I'a. He owned over 500 acres 
of land, which he divided into five farms, and built 
substantial farm buildings. He also built a school- 
house for the township, near his home. 

In IS.SO he built the original Stein's Distillery. He 
is known as the Pioneer of fitcin's Pure Rye Whiskeii. 
Twenty years later he built Stein's Tavern, now 
known as the Three-JIile House. He died in May, 
1872, and is buried in Crirasville cemetery. 



ADAM STEIN 

distiller and farmer, was born in Greenwich township, 
Berks Co.. I'a., Dec. IS, 1S19. In 1846 he bousht the 
Stein homestead from his father, Jacob Stein, consistine: 
of a 200-acre farm and the well known .Stein s Distill- 
eni. When the Keystone State Normal School was ori- 
.ijinated in 1866, he gave liberal encouraijement and 
support. He was elected one of the first trustees of 
the institution and continued to fill the position until 
1877. In 186-1 he was elected county commissioner and 
served a term of three years. 




ISAAC B. STEIX 

distiller and farmer and senior member of the firm 
of 1. B. Stfin & Son, was burn April 9, 1848. in 
Greenwich township, Berks county. He cari-ied on 
farming on his father's farm for a number of yeal■^■. 
In 1893 he bought his father's business and continued 
the distillation of the well known brand of fiteUt's 
Purr Rijc. Having years of experience in the business, 
he started out with more progressive ideas. The Old 
Stfin Disti'lery was replaced with an entirely new 
plant, introducing all the latest equipment known to 
the distiller's art. In 1905 he moved his family to 
Kutztown and resides on Noble street. 




CHAS. A. STEIN 

distiller and wholesale liquor dealer, was lorn May 
20, 1879, in Greenwich township, Berks county. He 
was educated in the public schools and graduated 
at the Keystone State Normal School in 1900. He 
taught school three terms. He engaged in the dis- 
tilling lu.'^iness with his father. Isaac B. Stein, form- 
ing the firm of I, B. Stein & Sou, distillers and 
wholesale liquor dealers. He is treasurer of the Kutz- 
town Rural Telephone and Telegraph i_o . and sec- 
retary of the Farmers Bank. Kutztown. He is prom- 
inent in fraternal circles. 



174 




DAXIEL A. DRIES 

of Kutztown, son of David Dries, was born May 30, 
1S48. in Maidencreck township, Berlcs Co. Worked on 
farm until 37 years old. He engaged in the hotel 
business at Moselem Furnace, Molltown, Fleetwood, 
Centreport, Lyons and Kutztown. He spent nine 
years as proprietor of the Keystone House. He is liv- 
int^ retired in Kutztown. He married Mary .T. Haw- 
kins, Blandon. Children : Worth A. Dries, present pro- 
prietor of the Keystone House : Samuel J. Dries, cigar 
manufacturer : William D. Dries, bar clerk at the 
I'ennsylvania House, Kutztown. Member of Fleet- 
wood Castle, No. 374, K. G. B. ; Director of Kutz- 
town Fair Association : manager of Kutztown Park 
in 1915. 




ROBERT HARRISON WESSNER 

of Allentown. was born in Kutztown, Pa., Aug. 22, 
1891, the youngest son of Lenious Wessner, deceased, 
and Lizzie (nee Bieber) Wessner. He attended the 
public schools, graduating from Kutztown High School 
in June 1907. Being endowed by nature with a 
talent for drawing and lettering, the suhiect of this 
sketch spent most of his spare time in studying this 
art. In 1909 he lecame the Sign and Show Card Artist 
at Hess Bros." Department Store, Allentown, Pa., which 
position he still holds. In 1910 Mr. Wessner married 
Miss Clara V. Baer. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. -T. 
Baer. of Kutztown. There is one child from this 
union — a daughter, Kathryn Helen. 





JOHN D. DETURK 

of Kutztown, \vas born .Tune 23, 1854, in Oley town- 
ship, Berks county. The parents were Nathan and 
Esther (nee Deisher) DeTurk. Mr. DeTurk was edu- 
cated in the public school and was reared on the 
farm. During his early career he engaged exten- 
sively in the cattle business. His present occupation 
is custom hauling. On .Tune 5, 187'9, he was married 
to Miss Amanda Merkel. One daughter was born, 
Louise B. M. DeTurk. widow of William Reinert. Mr. 
DeTurk is a miember of St. .Tohn's Reformed Church, 
the Masonic Lodge, Knight Templars and Knights of 
the Golden EarJe. He has a new home on Bast Main 
street. 



WILLIAM J. BEAR 

of Kutz,towu. son of .Tonathan S. and Fanny Bear, 
was born at Breinigsville, Sept. 11. 1869. He en- 
gaged in the paint business and later was chief en- 
gineer and n"iaster mechanic of car barns and 
power plant of the Allentown-Reading Traction Co.. 
at Kutztown in 1900. became assistant superinten- 
dent in 1902. and in 1907 was elected general fuperin- 
teudent. resigned in 1913. was on his (arm until 1914. 
when he accepted a position as superintendent of the 
munrcioal electric light plant, of Kutztown. He was 
married to BUen E. L. Siegfried. Two children were 
lorn, Clara, wife of Robert Wessner. of Allentown, 
and Helen. 



175 





THE REV. ROBERT BEXJ. LYNCH 

of Kutztown, was born at Pennsburg, Mont;;omery 
county. Pa., November 28, 1860. His parents were 
Lieut. Thomas J. and Maria (Lons) Lynch. He frrad- 
• uated from Muhlenberg College in 18S6 and in 1889 
from the TheGlo.iiical Seminary at Mt. Airy. Fol- 
lowins? his ordination he became pastor of Tinicum 
Charge, in Bucks county. Pa., where he served for al- 
most fifteen years, when he came to Kutztown as pas- 
tor of Trinity Lutheran Church, May 15, 1903. 
Rev. Lynch married Maggie U. Jones, of Reading, who 
died in Kutztown on April 6. 1904. On December 11, 
1913, Rev. Lynch married Anna S. Humbert, a daugh- 
ter of the late Rev. D. K. Humtert, of Bowers, 




PROI'\ HARKV W. SHARADIX 

artist, of Kutztown. was born Itecember 22, 1872. 
the son of J. Daniel and his wife. Carolint (nee Butz). 
in Kutztown. He graduated from the Keystone State 
Normal School in 1891 and attended the Metropolitai. 
Art School in New York for one year and the Indus- 
trial Art School, Philadelphia. He opened a studio 
in ReadiuK in 1894. He was in Reading twelve 
years. In 1906 he came to Kutztown and accepted 
the chair of art and drawing at the Keystone State 
Normal School. He traveled and studied in Rome 
and Paris on two different occasions, in 1905 and in 
1911. He was accompanied by his wife. He was 
married to Louise Neff. He is a member of St. Paul's 
Reformed Church, Kutztown. and the Masonic Ijodge. 



PROF. WM. S. HALDEIVIAX 

was born in Pine Grove. Pa. He entered the Key- 
stone State Normal School, at Kutztown, in thb 
-spring of 1900, taught ungraded school in Pine Grove 
township 1901-02, returned to Normal in the fall of 
1902. He graduated from the Keystone State Nor- 
mal School in 1904. was principal of Clinton High 
School, Aideuville, Wayne Co., 1904-09; was Secretary 
of Wayne County Teachers' Association 1907-1909 ; 
instructor in chemistry in Keystone State Normal 
School 1900-1913 and 1914-15, and rraduated from 
the University of Pennsylvania in 1914. He was 
awarded the Austin scholarship in chemistry for 1915- 
1916 in the Harvard Graduate School. 




GEORGE GliASSER 

Kutztown, Pa., was born April 15, 1873, in Maxa- 
tawny township. His parents were John and Han- 
nah (George) Glasser. He was married to Alice Rahn, 
and they have one son, Lester D.. aged 10 years. 
He worked on the farm for some time and then be- 
came engaged in the transfer business in Kutztown, 
He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He be- 
longs to the Fraternal Order of Eagles and Knights of 
Eagle. He has been a school director for twelve 
years and is at present president of the board. He is 
also a director of the Hope cemetery board. He re- 
sides at 335 Main street, Kutztown. 



176 





GEORGE C. BORDNER 

Kutztown, l*a., son of Thomas L. and Malinda Bord- 
ner, was born May 22, 1870. at Bethel. Pa. He spent 
the rreater part of his life as teacher and taught 
in the rural schools and the Kutztown Hifjh School. 
He attended the Keystone State Normal School. 
He graduated at Franklin and Marshall College with 
honors in 1S98, and received the degree of A. M. in 
1901. In 1899 he was elected professor of higher 
mathematics at the Keystone State Normal School and 
is serving in this capacity at the present time. He 
is a member of the Kutztown school board, director 
and secretary of the Kutztown B'air Association, sec- 
retary of Huguenot Lodge. No. 377. F. and A. M., mem- 
ber of Maxatawny Pouncil, Royal Arcanum, No. 1807, 
president of the Alumni Association of K. S. N. S., 
president of the Berks County School Directors' As- 
sociation. He is married to Mary L. Berger and they 
have the following children : Paul B., Claude li.. 
Grace A., Mary H., Richard T.. Francis v_., and Ruth M. 



CLARENCE S. SIEGFRIED 

No. 75 Noble street, Kutztown, Pa., was born Decem- 
ber 22. 1881, at Eaglepoint, Berks county. His par- 
ents are Simon W. and Caroline (Schlenker) Sieg- 
fried. He attended the public schools of Berks county 
and the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, and 
took a special course in bookkeeping. iDanking and ex- 
change at Schissler's' Business College, Norristown, 
Pa., completing the course March, 13, 1900. In 1897 
Mr. Siegfried met with a misfortune at Mill Creek 
creamery which cost him his left arm. In March, 

1900, he was employed by Welsh & Ambrose, at Mana- 
yunk, Philadelphia, as bookkeeper. On December 21. 

1901, he resigned his position and accepted a similar 
position with the Saucony Shoe Company on January 
1. 1902. He was elected s'uperintendent of the Sau- 
cony Shoe Co. October 20, 1906, and later elected su- 
perintendent of the Keystone Shoe Manufacturing Co., 
September 1, 1912. He is vice-president of the 
Deisher Knitting Mills, and is a member of Adonai 
Castle, No. 70, K. G. E. ; I. O. O. F., No. 634. L^ons ; 
Jr. O. U. A. M., No. 1004, Kutztown, and is treasurer 
of the Jr. 0. U. A. M. since July 1, 1906 to date. 

He was married to Rachael M. Fretz, and they 
have one daughter, Irma M., aged 5 years. 




ALI.ENTOW1S MORNING GALL 

This is a picture of the forty-pp-e printing press 
on which is' printed The Allentown Morning Call. 
Circulation over 18.000 daily. 'Phone or mail your 
want advertisements. 




BREINIG & BACHjVIAN 

Allentown. Firm established 1877. George F. Breinig 
and A. P. Bachman are the present proprietors. 



177 




JOHN WTLSON 

Kiitztown Pa., was born at Kimberton, Vincent town- 
fwp Chester 'county, March 26, 1845 the son of 
Th?mas and Rebecca Wilson. He is a retired railroad 
emoloyee. He entered the employ of the P. and B. Co. 
f" 1870 as carpenter and by faithful work was 
promoted to foreman of the carpenters and later fire- 
man; and on April 16, 1877, to engineer. He was at 
Se throttle on*^ various freight and passenger trains 
and on June 17, 1902, was transferred to the Kutz- 
town and AUentown branch, where be served until his 
reteement He was' married to Mary Louisa Beck, and 
he^had threl Children His wife and daughter are 
dead. His sons are Addison and Cleon. He is a 
member of Columbia Lodge, No. 286. F. and A. M., 
and Kutztown Aerie, No. 839, F. O. li. 




OLAYTOIV F. L/EVAN 



Kutztown, Pa., was' born December 19, 1885, in Green- 
wich township, Berks county. Pa. He -was educated in 
the public schools of Greenwich township and giadu- 
ated from the Keystone State Normal School, Kutz- 
town in 1906. He is a member of Huguenot Lodge, 
No 377. F. and A, M., and Odd Fellows' Lodge, Lyon 
Station He is secretary of the Mill Creek Rural 
Telephone Company. He taught school m Maxatawny 
township seven years— 1906-1913— and the K.rammar 
school at Kutztown from 1913 to 1915. His home 
is on a 22-acre farm in Greenwich township. U.e is 
a member of St. Paul's Reformed Church, of Kutz- 
town. 




DR. GEORGE SHiOTU KRESSLEY 

Kutztown Pa., was 'torn February 8, 1877 at Maxa- 
tawny post office, the son of Percival N. and Martha 
T^iJm Kressley. He attended the PutljC ^choo^-- 
nf Maxatawny and the K. b. N. ».. at ji.uui.owu, 
taught two terms, entered Muhlenberg College Sep- 
tlrater 5 1894, graduated in 1S98, entered the Theo- 
loSea Semfnary at Mt. Airy in tlie fall, and gradu- 
atSfl in .Tune 1901. He received the degree of A. M 
?rom MuWenberg College. He was elected professor o^ 
arcient and modern languages of the K. b. «■ »■ i" 
^Ml He had a leave Sf absence in 1910 and spent 
the summer semester in the University Goettmgen 
Germany. After three years of work he received the 
deo-Se of doctor in literature from. Muhlenberg Col- 
lege He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church 
and was confirmed by Rev. B. B Kramlich m Maxa- 
tawny Zion's Church in 1891. He resides on Normal 
Hill.' 




RAI/PH C. SHARADIX 

of Allentown, son of Mr. and Mrs J. Daniel Sharadin. 
of Kutztown, was torn m I^utztown Aoril 4, 188^. 
He left his home town in 1900. He prepared for 
college at the Keystone State Normal School and 
gradSIted from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy 
7n April 1904. He has been the proprietor of the 
HamiUon Pharmacy, located at 12th and Hamilton 
streets.. Allentown, since 1910. 



178 





GEORGE A. SCHLENKER 

Kutztown, Pa., was born Septemiber S, 1884, iu 
Greenwich township. His parents were Daniel A. and 
his wife, Sarah L. (Braucher) Schlenlcer. He was 
married to Mattie L. Wagaman and they have one 
daughter, Helen S., aged 7 years. He p;raduated from 
the K. S. N. S., in 1908, taught one year in Green- 
wich township, and served as principal of the Kutz- 
town High School for three years. In 1912 he en- 
raged in the printing business. He started the Kutz- 
town and Reading: Motor Express in 1913. He belongs 
to Huguenot Lodge, F. & A. M. ; Golden Eagles, Roy- 
al Arcanum, .Junior American Mechanics ; also to the 
Kutztown JFair Association, the Fire Company, the 
School Board and Democratic Committeeman of the 
Second Ward. 



C. C. DEIBERT 

Kutztown, was born September 15, 1884, at Landing- 
ville, Schuylkill county, the son of George R. and 
his wife, Mary A. Deibert. He attended the pulilit 
schools of his home town and graduated from the Or- 
wiesburg High School. He started work with the 
P. & R. Railway Company at the age of 19 years as 
assistant agent at Landingville. and worked at Pitts- 
ville. Port Carbon, Bridgeport, Chapman's, Landing- 
ville, and agent at Kutztown. He came here January 
16, 1913. He was married to Mary M. Gross, daughter 
ot .Tohn Gross and his wife, Ellen (nee Strauss), of 
Adamsdale. They have the following children : John, 
Lester and Florence. 5Ir. Deibert is a prominent 
Mason and a member of other local fraternal organ- 
izations. 





WILLIAM F. SCHOEDLER 

Kutztown, Pa., was born Januarv 23, 1870, in Kutz- 
town, the son of William and his wife Sarah (Adam) 
Schoedler. He is' married to Priscilla Heifley. He is 
superintendent and salesman of R. Miller's Son'e 
carriage works and has been in the employ of the 
above-named firm for thirty years. He is a member 
of Trinity Lutheran Church and Sunday school, Kutz- 
town : Kutztown Aerie, No. 839, F. O. E. ; Adonai 
Castle, No. 70, K. G. E., Kutztown, and Travelers' 
Protective Association. He is assessor of the First 
Ward 1914-1915. His home is on Park avenue. 



EUGENE PEYTON DEATRICK 

of 708 E. Seneca St., "Acacia House," Ithaca, N. 



Y., 



was born April 7, 1889. His parents are Dr. W. W. 
Deatrick and wife (nee Balliet). Mr. Deatrick left 
Kutztown in 1908. He graduated at the Keystone 
State Normal School in 1906; F. and M. College 1911 ■ 
A. B. degree. He taught the Boyertown High School 
from 1911 to 1913 in Sciences'. Entered graduate 
school at Cornell, 1913. The young mlan was ap- 
pointed assistant to the instructing staff of Depart 
ment of Soil Technology, College ot Agriculture, 1915. 



179 





ED^I^ARD R. SCHEIDT 

Kutztown. Pa., was born October 15. 1870, in Kutz- 
town. His parents are Henry and bis' wife Susannah 
(Kutz) Scbeidt. He was married to Neda Rothermel. 
February 25, 1892. He is a practical horsesboer and 
is proprietor of Scheldt's livery. He was raised on 
the farm until 15 years old, when he learned hi& 
present trade from his father. He remained here 
thirteen years as helper, and then took nossession of 
the business, -which he continued four years. He was 
next employed in the Keystone Shoe Manufacturing 
Company's plant for thirteen years. On December 10, 
1913. he erected a blacksmtih shop on Foundry alley 
and purchased the livery stock known as Kutz's liv- 
ery. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. 



FRANCIS H. \VERi:/EY 

of Kutztown, sou of Ellas Werley, born in Weisenber^ 
township, I.ehish county. Pa., August 5, 1849. He is 
a retired farmer and wheelwright and moved to Kutz- 
town in 1909 and has lived a retired life ever since. 
He attends to his farms at New Smithville and in 
Maxatawny. He was married in 1875 to Hannah Le- 
vau. daughter of Daniel J. Levan, of Maxatawny. 
One daughter, Mrs. Milton Kuhns, blessed their union. 
He is a member of Huguenot Lodge. No. 377, F. and 
A. M.. of Kutztown; was one of the originators of 
Macuuffie I^dge, I. O. O. F.. Fogelsville ; Knights of 
the Golden Eagle and Order of Independent Ameri- 
cans. He is a director of the Kutztown National 
Bank and treasurer of the Kutztown Fair Association. 





I>R. ELMER J. SELLERS 

Kutztown. was born June IS. 1861. in Windsor Castle. 
Pa., the son of Mahlon A. Sellers and wife, Leah. 
He attended the K. S. N. S., after which he served 
hifa' apprenticeship with Adam Bodenhorn. of Ham- 
burri, and Dr. Jacob H. Stein, of Reading. He served 
as clerk in various places for twelve years, then he- 
came a registered pharmacist August 15. 1887, and 
located at Kutztown and has conducted a successful 
business since, a total of 31 years. He is a member 
of Huguenot lodge. No. 377. F. and A. M,, Kutztown ; 
St. Paul's Reformed Church, Kutztown, and various' 
Pharmaceutical Associations. He resides with his 
family on Main street. 



180 



B. G. SHANKWEILER 

of 119 West Diamond Ave., Hazleton, was born on 
March 11, 1873, in Longswamip township. Berks county. 
He is a son of Benjamin and Sarah (nee Geist) Shank- 
weiler. Mr. Shankweiler is a dry goods merchant 
and conducts a modern department store in Hazleton. 
Mr. Shankweiler says he spent somie of his happiest 
days in Kutztown. He came here from Shamrock to 
learn the dry goods business. In 1899 he opened 
a store in Hazleton in partnership with his former 
employer, the late William Ti. Hinterleiter. This 
firm continued until 1915, when on February 10th Mr. 
Shankweiler bought the Hinterleiter interest. Several 
years ago he was married to Ella M. Sully. 





FRED. A. IVEBB 

of Monterey, Berks county, Pa., was horn at Hancock, 
Lonsswamp township, in 1SS2. He is a son of Daniel 
C. and Ellen (nee Yaenieh) Webb. The subject of 
this sketch was born and raised on the farm. Mr. 
Webb is at present proprietor of the Monterey House. 
He conducted the Maple Grove Hotel for one year and 
the Longswamp Hotel for four years. He was mar- 
ried December 15, 1904, to Mary, daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. Wm. B. Fox, of Henningsville. The union 
was blessed with four children, two sons and two 
daughters, namely : Marie Lula, aged S years ; Alma 
Enstina, 7 ; Eric Freddie, 4 : Harold Wayne, 1. Mr. 
Webb was educated in the township schools. Keystone 
State Normal School and Schissler's Business Col- 
lege. 



CYRUS T. WEBB 

of Kutztown, was born Septemter 3, 1S77, at Han- 
cock, in Longswamp township, Berks county. His 
parents are Daniel C. and Ellen (nee Yaenieh) Webb. 
Mr. Webb was educated in the putlic schools of Long- 
swamp -and Maxatawny townships. During his early 
years he worked in the ore mines at Kline's Corner 
and on his father's farm. For two years he con- 
ducted a general merchandise business at Hennings- 
ville, then came to Kutztown and entered into the 
wholesale and retail ice cream and confectionery busi- 
ness with his father-in-law, Jacob F. Reinert. They 
also iconduct a grocery store and have a big trade. 
He is married to Annie S. Reinert and they have two 
children : Ray F., aged 8 years, and Arline D., 4 years. 





REV. DR. WM. CHRIST SCHAEPFER 

Professor of New Testament Theology in the Reformed 
Theological Seminary, Lancaster, Pa., was born in 
Maxatawny, Berks county. Pa., April 28, 1851, a son 
of David and Esther Ann (Christ) Schaeffer. After at- 
tending the Keystone State Normal School, he graduat- 
ed in 1871, from Franklin and Marshall College, receiv- 
ing his A. M. degree in 1876, Ph. D. in 1889, and D. D. 
in 1903. He married Miss Mary H. Dreishach, of East 
Mauch Chunk, January 11, 1S81. Ordained to tht 
miinistry of the Reformed Church in 1874, he was 
pastor at Waynesboro, Danville, Huntingdon, and 
ChamKersburg, Pa., and since 1904 has been professor 
in the Seminary at Lancaster. 



D. L. WARTZENLtJFT'S 

shoe and hat store, Kutztown. Mr. Wartzenluft was 
born in Shoemalcersville, the son of David and his wife, 
Rebecca (nee Rothermel) Wartzenluft. He is a gradu- 
ate of the K. S. N. S., class of 1SS9, and taught 
school for thirteen years. He entered the shoe busi- 
ness in Kutztown in 1SS2, when he and L. A. Stein 
bought the 'business from W. D. Gross. In 1884 W. 
W. Sharadin became his partner and in 1890 he 
bought the entire business. In the same year he built 
an >annex to the store and in 1913 added a big addi- 
tion, which gave him a store room of 80 feet in depth.. 
In 1915 he had a new front put in his building. 



181 





ROEV. E. H. LEINBACH 

of Kutztown, a son of Elias A. and Caroline (Hoch) 
Leinbach, was born in 1861 in Bern townsbip. Berks 
county. Pa. He was educated at tbe Keystone State 
Normal School and at Myerstown College. After 
teaching- for a number of years,, he entered the Theo- 
loe:ical Seminary, at Lancaster, and graduated in 
1895. He was assistant to the late Rev. A. S. Lein- 
bach D, D , and others until he received a call to be- 
come the pastor of the Kutztown Charge, consisting 
of St. .Tohn's congreaation. at Kutztown. and St. Pet- 
er's in Richmond town&hip. He was ordained, October 
4. 1896. He was married to Mary A. Saylor. daurih- 
ter of Henr" H. and wife. Sarah, of Tuckerton. 
They have one son. Frederick Saylor, and one daugh- 
ter. Carolina Sarah. 



CHARIiES A. FREY 

Kutztown, Pa., was born Anril 8, 1868, in Weisen- 
terg township. Lehigh county. His parents were 
Henry and his wife, Priscilla (Xander) Frey. He was 
marrifd to Emma Wisser, which union was blessed 
with the followinr, children: Eertua M., aged 24 
years; Helen E., aged 22, and Webster J., aged 20. 
He is employed by C. W. Miller as carriage black- 
smith. He learned his trade at Seipstown. He was 
then employed by Eugene Hillegas, in Bucks county, 
after which he came to Kutztown and entered the em- 
ploy of R. Miller's Son, where he has worked for 24 
years. He is a memt>er of St. Paul's Reformed 
Church. Kutztown; Junior Mechanics and Fraternal 
Order of EarJes. He has been tax collector from 1908- 
1917. He resides on Upper Walnut street. 





J. GEORGE HINTZ, proprietor of Reading's 
leading Stationery Store. 



ELWOOD M. AXGSTADT 

of Kutztown, son of William and his deceased wife, 
Hettie (nee Gravfr) Anrstadt, was born in Kutztown 
on Aug. 7. 1870. lie attended the borough schools and 
later entered the employ of J. li. Esser to learn the 
printing trade. After finishing his trade he worked at 
New York, I'hiladelphia. Reading and other places. 
Aug. 18. 1894, he was married to Mary E. (nee Leiby). 
This union was blessed with two children, ElF-ie M., 
deceased, and Paul W., residing at home. In the fall 
of 1894 he accepted a position in the office in which 
he learned his trade and has been employed there 
ever since, 'teing at present linotype operator with the 
Kutztown Publishing Company. He is an active 
member of several secret organizations. 



182 





JONATHAN C. DIETRICH 

is a son of the late Daniel Dietricli, Greenwich town- 
ship, Berks county, Pa., born November 26, 1852. He 
was educated at the Kutztown State Normal School 
and Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeep.sie, N. J. 
He taufiht school for two years. Later he conducted 
the creamery and ice business established by his 
father, tor fourteen years, and held successively the 
following positions : teller in the National Bank of 
Kutztown and when removed to Reading, of the Key- 
stone National Bank ; Deputy Internal Revenue Stamp 
t-'lerk ; took-keeper Keystone Shoe Manufacturing Co., 
deputy to County Controllers during the administra- 
tions of Livingood and Rhoads. Mr. Dietrich now holds 
the position of Assistant Postmaster, of Kutztown, Pa. 



DR. SAMUEJL A. BAER 

of Frostburg, JMd., was born near Kutztown, 50 years 
^?' . A^ parents were John and Katharine (net 
Adam) Baer. Dr. Baer graduated from F. and M Col- 
/fi, at Lancaster. He tau&ht in the rural schools and 
at the Normal at Kutztown. Dr. Baer was County Su- 
permtendent of Berks for six years; City Superinten- 
dent of the schools of Reading nine years and taught 
'Jl Eastern College, Va. He served the Pennsylvania 
State Teachers Association as president. The past 
SIX years Dr. Baer had charge of the department of 
Pedagogy m the State Normal School at Frostburg 
Md. He was married to Clara Hartman. These chi - 
yr*^?^ ^,'-''® ''*"■? "> 4'^''™= Captain Joseph A. Baer, 
Stella Margaret, now Mrs. Jas. R. Kinsloe and Carl 
A, Baer. 




ROGER M. RENTSCHLBR 

Kutztown. was born March 24. 1886, in Tilden town- 
ship, Berks county. Pa. His parents were Jonathan 
M. Uentschler and wife Isabella R. He is a teacher 
by profession. Mr. Rentschler was educated in the 
public schools of Tilden township. Hamburg High 
School 1904, Perkiomen Seminary 1907, Sluhlenberg 
College 1911. He taught school in Tilden township 
1904-1907 ; assistant principal of the Hamburg High 
School 1911-1912, principal of Kutztown Hieh School 
1912-1915. Mr. Rentschler is a member of the Luth- 
eran Church and is prominent in Masonic circles. 




183 



B. F. CHESSMAN 

of Umeport, Lehigh county. Pa., was born in South 
Easton. He is a son of Rev. .John J., and Emma 
C. M. Cressman. In 1885 Mr. Cressman entered the 
Model department of Keystone State Normal School, 
under the tutorship of Prof. C. P. Dry. Later he en- 
tered the Normal department, graduating in 1895. 
After two .years of special work in preparing to teach, 
he later taught in Bethlehem township, Northampton 
county, and thence in various districts. Mr. Cressman 
believes in educational replenishment continually, as 
well as augmenting same. In 1913 the subject of 
this sketch studied at Wittenberg College. Mr. Cress- 
man is a member of the teaching force of Lower Mil- 
ford township, Lehigh county. 



Original and Present Plants of the Kutztown Foundry & Machine Co. 

at Kutztown, Pennsylvania 




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184 





ADVERTISING 



IRESSLER 



YSTEM 



f PUBUCITXl 
BAUCE THEATRE BLDQ. READINO PA. 

SIGN EXPERTS 



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185 




DANIEL M. SAUL 

of Kutztown, was born at Eaglepoint November 11, 
1884. He is a son o( Daniel and Sarah (nee Kron- 
inprer) Saul. In 1903 he graduated from the com- 
mercial denartment of the Keystone State Normal 
School. For ten j^ears he was employed as book- 
keeper with the Kutztown Foundry and Machine Com- 
pany. Later he formed a partnership with his broth- 
ers' and engaged in the wholesale liquor business for 
three years. Several years ago he accepted a position 
as bookkeeper with Hetfner-Dietrich Co., Kutztown. Mr. 
Saul is also engaged in the clothing business with his 
brother, .Tohn. He is married to Laura Christman, and 
they have three sons. He is prominent in Masonic 
and other fraternal as well as civic organizations. 




NICHOLAS M. RAHN SR. 

of Kutztown, was born October 15th, 1864, in Maxa- 
tawnv township, Berks county. Pa. His parents were 
William K. Rahn and Caroline (nee Merkel) Rahn. 
Mr. Rahn is Superintendent of the Machine Shop of 
the Kutztown Foundr.y and Machine Company. He 
was married to Annie L. Nicks. These children 
were born to the couple : Harold H., aged 22 years, 
a graduate of the Keystone State Normal School 
in 1911 and how a .Junior at Lafayette Collefe, 
Easton, prepairing for Civil Eng'ineering. Hilton 
N., aged 20, a graduate ot the Keystone State Normal 
School taking a post-graduate course at the same 
institution ; Leon L., aged 18 years, now a student at 
the Normal School. Willard N. and Margaret A., died 
in infancy. 




RAYMOND W. HINTERLEITER 

son of the late William G. and Mrs. Hinterleiter, was 
born and raised in Kutztown. After s:raduating from 
the Keystone State Norma! School and completing' a 
business course at Pierce College. Philadelphia, he 
clerked in his father's stores in Kutztown and Hazle- 
ton for several years. He then opened a department 
store in AUentown, employing about thirty sales-peo- 
ple. He is a member of Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, F. 
and A. M., Kutz^town ; Hazleton Chapter, No. 277, 
Ilazleton ; Allen Council. No. 23, and Allen Comman- 
dery, No. 20. AUentown ; Caldwell Consistory, at 
Bloomsburg. Rajah Shrine, Reading, and Anne Penn 
Allen Chapter Eastern Star, AUentown. 




I. C. GRIMLEY 

for 15 years assistant cashier in the Kutztown Na- 
tional Bank. 



186 





WILLIAM WENZ 

the son of Philip Wentz. and his wife. Malinda, a born 
Dieter, was born in Kutztown, December 5, 1866. 
lie learned the stone cutter's trade from his father. 
After the father retired from business he f?ave the 
same over to his sons, who conducted the business 
under the firm name of Wenz Bros. This was in 1895. 
This business was conducted on Greenwich street until 
•Tuly 1. 1913, when it was moved to Allentown. Mr. 
Wenz is the president of the reorganized plant. He 
is married and has one son and one daxighter. 



JAMES D. WENZ 

is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wentz and was borh 
in Kutztown, December 17, 1864. He learned the trade 
of stone cutter in his father's place of business, and 
for a while, from 1895, was a member of the firm of 
Wenz Bros., who conducted the marble and granite 
business on Greenwich street. Mr. Wenz left Kutz- 
town when the firm moved to Allentown and is now 
the efficient salesman and director of the new firm. 




R. Miller's Son Carriage Works, one of the handsomest business fronts in the borous:h 
of Kutztown. At this location the carriage building was conducted for 74 years. The 
plant is splendidly equipped to do all kinds of work in their line. 



187 



A DISTINGUISHED FAMILY OF DOCTORS 





' DR. EDWARD HOTTENSTEIN 

died on Auffust 26. 1914, aged 82 years. 11 months and 25 days. The 
Hottenstein family is one of the most prominent in this part of Penn- 
sylvania. On this page and facinr, are the pictures of this great 
family of doctors. Dr. Edward Hottenstein is a descendant of Kuno 
Yon Hottenstein, who was a soldier in the German army. Kuno mar- 
ried Louisa Von Eers and died in 1563. His two sons were Nicholas 
and Ernst. The latter married and left three son& who emigrated to 
America. Dr. Hottenstein was horn in JMaxatawny township, in Oc- 
tol.er, 1831, and was graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1853. 
In 1855 he was married to Sarah Ann, the daughter of Jacob Knabb, 
of Oley. She was born in 1835. We are pleased to note that the widow 
of the late Dr. Hottenstein is still living and in good health. 



DR. E. L. HOTTENSTEIN 

physician and surgeon, of Kutztown, was 
born August 12, 1864. His early educa- 
tional training was in the public schools 
of the borough and the K. S. N. S. 
Dr. Hottenstein studied medicine with 
his father, after which he entered Jef- 
ferson Medical College, graduating in 
1886. Dr. Hottenstein has been a suc- 
cessful practitioner upwards of thirty 
years. He was married to Alice, daugh- 
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. F. Stimmel. 



THE HOTTENSTEIN RESIDENCES 




Reading from left to right are the residences of 
Dr. E. L. Hottenstein, Dr. Charles A. Hottenstein, and 
Dr. Edward Hottenstein. Sr., deceased. 



188 





DR. CHARLES A. HOTTENSTEIN 

dentist, was' born at Kutztown October 1, 1871. Ht 
received his early education in the borough schools 
and the Keystone State Normal School. He gradu- 
ated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Sur- 
S'ery in 1892. Later he took a course iu medicine 
and surgery in Jefferson iVIedical College, receiving his 
decree from this institution in 1895. September 10, 
1895, he was married to Anna C. Hottenstein. They 
are the parents of one daughter. Miss Myrl. Dr. 
Hottenstein is a member of the Board of Trustees 
of the Normal School, is a Mason and a member of 
St, Paul's Reformed Church, 




DR. ELaiER K. HOTTENSTEIN 

of 508 E, Buchtel Ave., Akron, Ohio, was born near 
Kutztown, Pa. His parents were Edward and his 
wife Sarah Ann Hottenstein, Dr. Hottenstein is a 
ph.vsician and surgeon and left here in 1886, He 
was married to Ida Anna Bieber who died in 1904, 
The union was blessed with two children : Mrs, Clara- 
belle Evans, 23, and William Edward Hottenstein, 21, 
Dr, Hottenstein received the degree of M, D, at .Teffer- 
son Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa,, in 1883, He 
practiced medicine at Kutztown in '83, '84 and '85, 
He removed to Akron, Ohio, in 1886 where he en- 
joys an extensive practice. He is a member of 
Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, P, and A. M,, of Kutztown, 



DR. PETER D. HOTTENSTEIN 

of 5100 Market street, Philadelphia, Pa., was born in 
Kutztown, July 20, 1874. He is a physician and drug- 
gist. Receiving preliminary education through the 
public schools of Kutztown, he graduated from the Key- 
stone State Normal School in 1896, On Oct, 1, 1896 
he entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmac.v, grad- 
uating in 1899. In Oct. 1900, he entered the Medico- 
Chirurgical College graduating from that institution in 
1904, He since followed both professions at the above 
address, Mr, Hottenstein was married to Mabel 
M, Hill, of Paulesboro, N, J, This union was 
blessed with the following children : Edward S,, aged 
10 years'; David F,, 9; Marguerite A,, 7, and Cathene 
B„ 3. 




DR. WM. J. HOTTENSTEIN 

of 197 Spicer St,, Akron, Ohio, was born August 28, 
1868, He is a dentist by profession and left his 
native town in the fall of 1890 for Akron, Ohio, 
Dr, Hottenstein graduated in medicine in 1889 from 
the ,Tefferson Medical Coller.e, Philadelphia. He prac- 
ticed one .year, when he took up dentistry, graduating" 
from the Pennsylvania Dental College, Philadelphia, 
in 1890, 

He is married to Amelia C, (nee Yon Alt) Hotten- 
stein, and they have one son, Howard William, aged 
16 years'. 



189 




J. H. STUMP 

of Kutztown. commenced business in 1902 as funeral 
director and embalmer. He has a modern equipment 
and gives prompt service. In 1907 Mr. Stump, with 
his brother. Curtin D., engaged in the undertaking and 
furniture business at Fleetwood. The latter had 
charge of the store until his death in 1913, when J. 
W. Stump took over the business. 




LICHTENWALNER'S MILLINERY STORE 

an up-to-the-minute fcfusiness establishment, whert. 
sylish millinery goods predominate. 



GEORGE RHODE'S MEAT MARKET 



.~r. JIMBWWMWi 




W y^^^^^^^^^^BS^^M^M^^^^ 


^:^!^¥«iS^ 




^^S^v^#<^^^^H 


IIBn^S9^^» ^■H SB B IH 'Hi 


^^^■■■■ir ^■^F^flEJS 



The above is a view of Geort;e Ubode*s modern meat market and residence at the 
corner of JIain and Noble streets. In connection with his biitcherinci' t usiness, Mr. iUiode 
is operating, an artifical ice plant. The slaughterinj? house and ice manufacturing' plant are 
located alon^ Saucony creek, several sf|uares from the meat market. 



190 




THE WHITNER STORE A STORE OP "SER- 
A^CE" AT ALL TIMES. The "Whitner 
Service" is extended to you at all times, that 
is, service that allows for the comfort and 
permanent satisfaction of all patrons. Vis- 
itors to the store will find many comforts 
and conveniences to make their visit as 
comfortable as their own homes. 

A waiting room overlooking the entire 
store and the street, a restaurant where are 
served well cooked and appetizing meals at 
moderate prices, broad aisles and perfect 
ventilation, together with good light, are 
among the conveniences this store offers to 
visitors. 

Or, if 5'ou wish us to be of service to you 
while you remain at home, it will give us 
great pleasure at any time to respond to 
your wishes if you will let us know them 
by telephone or mail. In this case you can 
depend on perfect satisfaction, just as 
though you were purchasing in person at 
our counters. Some of the things constantly 
to be found in our assortments are: 

Women's, Misses', Girls' and Children's 



Suits, Coats, Furs, Dresses, etc.. Muslin Un- 
derwear, Corsets, Women's and Misses' 
Waists, Infants' Wear and Novelties. Boys' 
Clothing, Millinery, Embroideries and Laces, 
Cotton Wash Dress Goods, Men's Furnish- 
ings, Neckwear for Women, Misses, and 
Girls, Ribbons, Stationery, Silks, Wci'olen 
Dress Goods, Domestics, Linings, Art Em- 
broidery and Supplies, White Waist and 
Dress Fabrics, Knit Underwear and Stock- 
ings for Women, Misses, Girls, and Children, 
Table Linen and Towels, Umbrellas, Para- 
sols, Toilet Soaps, and Toilet Requisites of 
all kinds. Notions, Jewelry, Candy, House 
Furnishings, Kitchen Supplies, China and 
Glass Ware, Trunks, Traveling Bags, Suit 
Cases, Rugs, Carpets and Floor Coverings, 
Art Furniture, Window Shades, Awnings, 
Home Decoration of many sorts, etc., etc. 

We should be glad to hear from you at 
any time, or to have you pay us a visit. 

In business since 1877. 

C. K. WHITNER & CO., 



4S8 to 444 Penn Square, 



Reading, Pa. 



191 



CELEBRATING 53rcl ANNIVERSARY 

Kline Bppihimer & Co., of Reading. 



Making a record that is probably unique in 
business circles anywhere in the United States, 
the tirni of Kline, Eppihimer & Co., in April 
celebrated its 53d anniversary. The founders 
of the big Penn street department store, way 
back in April, 1862, Amos Kline and Henry 
Eppihimer, are still in active control of the 
business, although the former has reached the 
age of 83 years and the latter is 85 years old. 
Both may be seen at the store nearly every day. 
With them are associated Frank M. Rieser, Rich- 
ard T. Lenhart, and William W. Kline, who were 
taken into the firm 2Z years ago. The house 
enjoys an enviable reputation for squar'^ dealing 
with the public and with each individual patron, 
as well as for responsible, high-grade merchan- 
dise. 

The firm began business at 512 Penn street in 
the earliest and most trying days of the Civil 
War period. It employed two clerks and was 
strictly a dry goods store. This store met with 
public favor and the business grew rapidly. In 
five years time its quarters were outgrown and 
the store moved to 522 Penn street. The build- 
ing was enlarged to four stories and extended 
to Cherry street. Later 520 Penn was added to 
the store and still later 518 was absorbed. The 
additions were made four stories high and ex- 
tended to Cherry street. A splendid plate glass 
front covering the three buildings was put in, 
the various changes making the store one of 
the largest and best appointed in this part of 
the state. 



When the firm went into business Reading had 
a population of 23,000. Now the city and suburbs 
have many more than 100,000 people, and the 
store, growing with the city, employs over 200 
salespeople, not counting the business office force 
and the employees in the delivery room. 

From a single department the store has grown 
to an establishment of twenty-four divisions. 
Many handle large quantities of imported goods 
from foreign houses supplying this store ex- 
clusively. The departments are : Ribbons and 
small leather goods, linens and toweling, notions 
and toilet goods, ladies' gloves, ladies' knit un- 
derwear, woolen dress goods, wash dress goods, 
men's furnishings, silks, domestics, carpets and 
rugs, blankets and bed coverings, upholstery, 
awnings, porch furniture, ladies' misses' and chil- 
dren's ready-to-wear outer garments, dressmak- 
ing, art embroidery, ladies' muslin underwear, 
ladies' hosiery, linings, china and glass, trunks, 
bags and traveling accessories, confectionery, 
toys, hair goods and hair dressing parlor. 

The firm sells the Victor Victrolas and Colum- 
bia Grafonolas and is the largest distributor of 
Talking Machines and Records in Berks County. 

A well equipped Mail Order Department is 
maintained for out of town customers and others 
who cannot always make it convenient to go to 
the store when in need of goods. Experienced 
buyers fill these orders, shipping the purchases 
by Parcel Post. 




192 




JUST 1 5 YEARS AGO 

Independent'Telephone Service was instituted— the result of a popular 
demand for relief from unjust, high rates and limited service. 

In 27 Towns and Cities throughout Eastern Pennsylvania local com- 
panies were organized and now constitute the splendid system of The 
Consolidated Telephone Company serving 20,000 subscribers. 

Good service, courteous treatment, low rates and extensive Long 
Distance Connections have caused Consolidated Telephone popularity. 



CONSOLIDATED TELEPHONE COMPANY 

DISTRICT OFFICE-522 COURT ST., READING. PA. 



193 




CHARLES E. GEHRING 



o£ New York City, was born Octobei- 1. 1873, in Miti- 
dleburffc Snyder Co. lie moved to Kutztown in 1S74. 
where he resided with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Con- 
rad Gehring, until 1890. During the early days in 
Kutztown, in Mr. Gehring's boyhood days he was at 
various times a newsboy, carried bricks on the Wil- 
liam Bieber yard, carried water on the farm of Chab. 
Deisher, spent several summers picking and selling 
wild berries, and wound up his career in Kutztown 
as an apprentice in the office of the Kutztown Patriot, 
where his father was then employed. 

Leaving Kutztown March 19, 1890, Mr, i.iehring 
began his career as a printer in Philadelphia, A 
year later, when 18 years old, he was superintendent 
of a printing plant at Moorestown. N. .T. Later he 
became a linotype operator on the New Yoi-k Tribune. 
Still later he conceived the idea of establishing a 
school to teach printers how to operate the linotype. 
He carried out the idea successfully and profitably, 
and advanced from the school into a commercial lino- 
type plant, which soon became the largest of its kind. 
In 1905 he became interested in New York Citypoli- 
ticy and soon became prominent in the Municipal 
Ownership League, later named the Independence 
League, of which from a member in the ranks he 



arose swiftly to leader of his district and later chair- 
man of the County Committee for three years. After 
four severe campaigns his party won in 1909 and 
Mr. Gehring was appointed Deputy County Clerk tor 
four years at a salary of $6000 per year. At the ex- 
piration of his term he declined a reappointment tor 
business reasons, but later, at the solicitation of 
County Clerk William F. Schneider, accepted an 
equallv important appointment as Superintendent of 
Records of the same county, which office he still holds. 
Mr. Gehring is the publisher and managing editor 
of the New York Hotel Ilerister-Keview, which is 
recognized both in the United States and in Europe 
as the greatest publication of its kind. When it is 
remembered that Mr. Gehring took this publication 
when it was an unknown, insignificant monthly with 
an unenviable reputation, it may well be said that 
Charles E. Gehring, a Kutztown boy, has indeed made 

Mr. Gehring also has his social side. He is a Past 
Commander of Ivanhoe Commandery, Past High Priest 
of Corinthi.in Chapter, R. A. M., and a member of 
many prominent lodges and organizations of national 
reputation. 



194 




AMANDUS M. SMITH 



was born north of Kutztown, on December 14. 1S74. 
He attended the public school and the Model School. 
In 1S90 be entered the Keystone State Normal School, 
graduating B. E. 1894 ; M. B. 1896, and B. S. 1897. 
Mr. Smith then taught school for three terms in 
Greemvich. In 189S he entered the Sophomore Class 
at Bucknell University and graduated A. B. in 1901. 
Then Mr. Smith became the head of the Department 
of Mathematics. Elkhart. Ind.. and principal of the 
Hich School from 1902 to 1906. He was connected 
with the Lake Shore Railway Engineering Corps on 
the Elkhart gravity yard construction and track eleva- 
tion in Ohicaso during the summer of ly03. In 1906 
Mr. Smiith was appointed out of a big field of candi- 
dates to the office of City Enriineer of Elkhart. For 
the past eight years Mr. Smith has leen City Engineer 
and a member of the Board of Public Works, and has 
charge of over $1,000,000 worth of improvements : 
fourteen miles of paving, forty-five miles of sewerN, 
fortv-four miles of side-walks and a number of bridg- 
es. He is the consultin.Pi engineer for St. Joseph 
Valley and the Chicago. South Bend, and N. Ind. 
Traction Companies and engineer on the sewer system 
of Milford, Ind. Mr. Smith had charge of motortztnu' 



the Elkhart Fire Department. He entered the con- 
tracting business in 1914 and now has miles of sew- 
ers and street paving under construction. He is a 
member of the following fraternities' : Kane Lodge, 
183, P. and A. M., Master 1907 ; Concord Chapter. 101, 
R. A. M., High Priest, 1909 ; Elkhart Council, 79, 
R. and S. M.. Thrice. 111. Master 1912-15 ; Elkhart 
Commandery, 31, K. T., Em. Com., 1914 : Star Light 
Chapter. 181. O. E. S., Patron 1908-11 ; Fort Wayne 
Consistory, A. A. O. S. E. (32 degrees) ; Mizpah 
Temple. A. A. 0. N. M. S. ; Ma-ha-di flrotto ; president 
of' Northern Indiana Past Masters Association ; Elk- 
hart Lodge. 425. B. P. O. Elks : Pulaski Lodge, I. O. 
O. P. Mr. Smith is the secretary of the Board of 
Deacons of the First Presbyterian Church. Elkhart ; 
^ ecretary of Chamber of Commerce. Elkhart. Recent- 
Iv Mr. Smith was elected vice president and director 
of the Elkhart Erirlse and Iron Conioany. In 1907 
he was married to Edna Calahan. of Howe. Ind. One 
sin. Amandus M. Smith, .Tr.. was born to the couple. 
Thev own a home on the north bank of the beautifnl 
St. .Toe River in Elkhart, and will be glad to see their 
friends. 



195 




OBEDIAH J. KOVER 



ail artistic designer and decorator, of Kort Wayne, 
Ind,, was born May 6, 18,S8, at Kutztown ; parents, 
.Tohn Kover. born in Sonitrset county, .Ian. S, 1799. and 
Anna Maria Fetter, born at Saltzbiirji", Nortliamptoi', 
on August 28. 1800. Mr. Kover left Kutztown in 
1863. He is an artist by occupation and his work 
adorns many churcbes. tbcatres. public buildinrs and 
halls throujjhout the United States. On September 
10. 1842. Mr. Kover was married to l*]meline Shoen- 
bcrger. of Lehir,h Gap. Pa. The imion was blessed 
with one child. I'^lward W. Kover. born at Mauch 
Chunk. Carbon county. February 16. 1861. We are 
sorry to state that space does not permit us to pive 
a detailed biography of this uentleman's eventful life. 
Mr. Kover and lii^ artists, who are divided tip in four 
crews, frescoed over two thousand churches. In his 
early youth he attended the lornugh schools. At the 
ape of 16 years he went to Iteadinu' to learn the 
printing trade. At the latter place he was confirmed 
in the Reformed faith by Ilev. Leinbach. After bk, 
had served an apprenticeship at the black art for four 



years he returned to his home where he remained 
several years, after which he went to Mauch Chunk 
where he married. When war broke out he showed 
his patriotism by enrolling as a- recruit but was re- 
.lected on account of his physical condition, A tew 
years later he and his wife went to Philadelphia where 
Mr. Kover served an apprenticeship ^ frescoer and 
interior decorator. Later he went in business with 
r. Benson and after beinj: ensased in the frescoing 
business in Philadelphia a few years went to Decatur. 
Indiana, thence Fort Wayne. Indiana, his present resi- 
dence. Mr. Kover worked as a scenic artist in 
theatres at Cincinnati. Dallas. Te.\as, New York City 
and other places. Mr. Kover's son, Edward W.. has 
charge of the management of the business. At a 
church banquet recently Mr. Kover was presented 
with a pretty r.old-headed cane and comiplimentary 
resolutions expressive of the satisfaction of the trus- 
lees for the splendid decorations be executed in a 
western church. 



196 







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19S 




FRED. X. BAER 

the florist, Kutztown, Pa. lie erected the first hot- 
houEe in Kutztown in 1906, and business increased to 
such an extent that he found it necessary to add an- 
other hot-house in 1908. In 1'910 he built an addi- 
tional annex, making it a larp:e up-to-date establish 
ment, consisting of more than 5000 square feet of 
slass. These houses are fitted with beds of cut flowers, 
palms, evergreens and vegetable plants. During this 
time he also built up an extensive trade in floral de- 
signs. He furnishes decorations for banquets, wed- 
dings, commencements and sociables of any kind. 




VICTOR H. HAUSER 

of Kutztown. was born on June 17, 1875, in North- 
ampton County, Pa. The parents, James J. Hauser 
and Anna (nee Lesh) Hauser. Mr. Hauser is su- 
perintendent of the foundry department with the Kutz- 
tDwn Foundry and Machine Company, and is one of 
the town's most enterprising citizens. In 1904 he en- 
tered the employ of the local company. He is serving 
the borough in Town Council and was' Secretary of 
the Kutztown Board of Trade from 1910 to 1915. On 
April 6, 1895 he was married to Myrtle Knauss. The 
following children were born to them: Lillian A., aged 
19 years; Gladys B., 15; Stanley L., 12, and Clarence 
H.. 8. 







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199 




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THE KUTZTOWN NATIONAL BANK 




CAPITAL, - $ 50,000.00 

SURPLUS AND UNDIVIDED PROFITS, - - 100,000.00 
DEPOSITS OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS 




INTERIOR VIEW OF BANK 
214 



OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 






JOHN R. GONSER 




R. H. ANGSTADT 


President 


0. P. GRIMLEY 
Cashier 


Vice President 






PHILIP D. IIOCH 



WM. T. BREINIG 



JOHN H. HUNSICKER 






W. P. KRTJM, 



GEO. A. DREIBELBIS 



PHAON S. HEFFNER 






P. H. WERLEY 



FRED. A. MAFOK, Esq. 

Solicitor and Director 



ISAAC C. GRIMLEY N. W. HENSINGER 

Assistant Cashier Clerk and Stenographer 

215 



DANIEL P. GRIM 
Clerk 



THE FARMERS BANK, KUTZTOWN 




CAPITAL, $50,000.00 SURPLUS, $30,000-00 

UNDIVIDED PROFITS OVER $5000.00 



OFFICERS 






CHAS. A. STEIN 
Secretary 



C. W. MILLER 
President 



ARTHUR BONNER 
Vice President 



216 



OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 






H. A. FISTBR 
Cashier 



R. r. ALBRIGHT 
Assistant Cashier 



WALTER S. LOY 
Vice President 






DR. N. Z. DUNKELBBRGER 



D. L. "WARTZBNLUFT 



DAVID D. KUTZ 






U. J. MILLER 



O. O. SELL 



WM. K. TREXLER 






MAURICE D. KUNKEL 



GEO. W. KEMP 



CHESTER A. WALBERT 



JACOB F. ZIMMERMAN JAMES H. GULDIN. JR. 

217 



D. NICHOLAS SCHAEFFER was born in Max- 
atawny township, Berks county, Pa., on the 
10th day of September, 1853. His father 
was David Schaeffer, and his mother, Esther, 
daughter of Solomon Christ. 

He attended the public schools during his 
youth and then attended the Keystone State 
Normal School, where he prepared for col- 
lege. He entered Franklin and Marshall 
College as a sophomore in the fall of 1873 
and graduated in June, 1876. After his 
graduation he was registered as a law stu- 
dent in the office of George F. Baer, where 
he pursued his legal tudies for a period of 
two years, and was admitted to the Berks 
County Bar November 12, 1878, and to the 
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in February, 
1881. He has been actively engaged in the 
practice of law from the time of his admis- 
sion to the bar up to the present time. 

He was married to Katharine A. Grim, a 
daughter of Jonathan K. Grim and his wife, 
Susanna, on the 11th day of November, 1880. 
He has three sons, viz: Forrest G. Schaeffer, 
practicing physician at Allentown; Paul N. 
Schaeffer, a member of the Berks County 
Bar, and H. Harold Schaeffer. 



REV. JOHN FREDERICK KRAMLICH, son 

of Rev. B. E. and Sophia Kramlich, was born 
in Kutztown August 29, 1871. His early edu- 
cation was received in the Keystone State 
Normal School, from which he graduated in 
1889. For the three following years he 
taught in the public schools of Lehigh 
county. He then entered Muhlenberg College 
and graduated in 1896. He entered the Luth- 
eran Seminary at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, 
graduating in 1899. The same year he was 
ordained by the Ministerium of Pennsylva- 
nia. On August 6, 1899, he was installed as 
pastor of Grace Lutheran congregation, Roy- 
ersford. Pa. His work has been most suc- 
cessful and the congregation has greatly 
prospered during his pastorate. 



ALiBERT DIETEIR, of Hallowell, Montgomery 
county, Pa., was born March 30, 1832. He 
is a son of Jacob and his wife, Marie Louisa, 
Dieter. He left Kutztown in 1860. Mr. Die- 
ter is a harnessmaker by occupation. He 
was married to Esther daughter of Solomon 
Heffiner, of Richmond township. The union 
was blessed with three children, namely: 
Marie Louisa Dieter, aged 54 years; John 
Heffner Dieter, 52, and Henry Dieter, 50. 



OR. JOHN KTJTZ DETURK, of Erie, Pa., was 
born in Kutztown, June 21, 1882. His par- 
ents were James L., and Barbara (nee Kutz) 
DeTurk. The mother of Dr. DeTurk was a 
close relative to the early settlers of this 
borough having been a daughter of David 
Kutz. Dr. DeTurk graduated from the Key- 
stone State Normal School, Kutztown, 1901. 
He then entered the Medico-Chi. College in 
Philadelphia, graduating in 1906. On July 
1, 1906, he entered the Harriot Hospital at 
Erie; on March 1. 1907, he became assistant 
surgeon at the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and 
Sailors' Home, which position he is still filling. 
Opening an office in Erie in June, 1909, 
he soon established an extensive prac- 
tice. Dr. DeTurk was marred to Georgia R. 
Randolph, of Erie, Pa. Four children have 
blessed this union, namely: James R., aged 
5 years; John J., 3; Barbara May, 2, and 
Paul R., aged 9 months. 

REV. WILLIAIVI W. KRAMIilCH, a son of Rev. 
B. E. Kramlich and his wife, Sophia (born 
Bieber), was born in Kutztown, Pa., January 
22, 1866. He attended the Keystone State 
Normal School and later the Preparatory 
School at Chambersburg, Pa., from which 
latter institution he entered Muhlenberg Col- 
lege, at Allentown, Pa., in the fall of 1883 
and graduated in the year 1887. In the fall 
of the year 1888 he entered the Lutheran 
Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, graduat- 
ing in the year 1891, and was ordained in 
Emanuel Lutheran Church, Pottstown, the 
same year. In the year 1894 he was united 
in marriage with Ida Ahrens, of Reading. 
This union was blessed with one daughter, 
Clara Virginia. He has been serving parishes 
in Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties. 
At present he is serving a parish at Weiss- 
port. 

J. D. B. FBNSTERMAOHER, of 1039 North 
9th St., Reading, Pa., was born in Kutz- 
town November 27, 1893, being a son of 
Mr. and Mrs. J. P. S. Fenstermacher. Mr. 
Fenstermacher was in the employ of the 
Kutztown Foundry and Machine Company 
about five years. He is a member of Adonai 
Castle, No. 70, K. G. B., and the P. O. S. of 
A. Camp, No. 677. He attended the Key- 
stone State Normal School and the public 
schools of Kutztown. 'Mr. Fenstermacher 
is now in the employ of J. D. Hafer, his 
father-in-law, who is in the hardware 'busi- 
ness, located at 1044-1046 North Eighth St., 
Reading. He is a miember of Salem U. B. 
Church, of Reading. 




218 





C. I. G. CHRISTMAX 

Pi'opiictoi" 

Member of the Reading and 
Allentown Day Committee 



THE CHRISTM,\X STORE AND HOME 



is a Maxatawnian and was born February 19. 1866. At 
tbe aji:e of five years be came to Kutztown. After some 
years in tbe public scbools be entered tbe Normal 
Scbool, graduating tberefrom in 1883. He taught 
until 1893. Tbe last position be held was that of 
tbe principalship of the Kutztown scbools. In April, 
1895, he launched out in the dry goods and notions 



business at bis present location. After a few years he 
found it necessary to enlarge the ■ store room and con- 
sefiuently added 25 feet by 90 feet. In 1905 be 
erected his handsome home at tbe side of the store, 
in which he resides with bis family. He is an active 
member of St. John's Reformed Church and of tbe 
lodfies K. G. E., No. 70, sai .Tr. O. U. A. M., No. 1004. 



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THE HERMAN BLOCK 

CHAS. D. HERMAN, Proprietor 

The founder of this prosperous business stand, was born April 11, 1855. in Greenwich 
township, tbe son of .Tames and wife Catharine (nee Haring), daufjiter of Peter and 
Rebecca (nee Stoyer). He was raised on tbe farm and when 17 years of age, learned the 
tailoring trade under Henry Williams, of Kutztown. He also took a course in cutting with 
Mr. Daugbel. of Allentown. On .Tan. 1, 1874. he started in tbe custom tailoring business 
opposite Walnut street, on Greenwich, from whence be moved to different locations in town. 
He purchased bis present place of tiusiness in the fall of 1902, took possession March 31, 
1903, and has continued his business here since, adding ready-made clothing and gents' 
furnishing to his line. He has been in business 43 years. His son Quinton D.. bad been 
in his employ for many years, and three years afo Mr. Herman turned over to bim part of 
the business. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Kutztown. Pa., and of 
the Church Council ; Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, P. and A. M.. and K. G. E.. No. 70. He 
is at present a Trustee of tbe Keystone State Normal School. President and Director of 
Kutatown Pair Association, and President and member of ICutztown Fire Company. Mr. 
Herman was married to Clara M. Gross and tbe following children are living : Richard. 
Lieut, in U. S. Army, located at Philippine Islands : Quinton D., in business with his 
father ; Paul A., manager of Herman's Playhouse ; Marguerite, wife of Frank Bailey, of 
Butler, Pa., and three deceased daughters, namely : Gertrude, Louisa M., and Bessie E. 

219 




A. K, LESHER 



of Kutztown, was born in 1S69. a son of John M. 
Lesher and his wife, Matilda (nee Kline). 

Mr. Lesher was educated in the torough schools and 
the Keystone State Normal School. He started his 
career as a shoemaker, at which trade he was engagied 
for ten years. Later he entered the hotel and restau- 
rant business and conducted one place for fourteen 
years. In 1913 he sold out and took ur) the auto- 
mobile business forming a partnership with Dr. N. 2. 



Dunkelberger. The firm is known as the Kutztown 
Motor Car Company, of which Mr. Lesher is secretary 
and general manag^er, and Dr. Dunkelberger president. 

In 1892 Mr. Lesher was married to Miss Annie, 
daughter of John Gerber and his wife (nee Garman), 
of Lebanon, Pa. 

Mr. Lesher takes an active interest in the welfare 
of Kutztown and is prominent in secret organizations. 




THE L/ESHER HOME ON MAIN STREET 



220 




CLEM. J. STICHLER 

was born in Kutztown 
February 16, 1884. He 
received a thorough train- 
ing in the manufacturing 
of shoes in the plant of 
the Keystone Shoe Mfg. 
Co. He passed through all 
the departments in the 
construction of shoes. Next 
he studied the business of 
retailing shoes. After 7 
years of this training, he 
entered into business for 
himself and later on asso- 
ciated with himself his 
father-in-law, Jas. Schaef- 
fer. The firm conducts a 
successful business on 
Main street. He is mar- 
ried to Ella Schaeffer. 
They have three children, 
Mildred, Helen and Paul. 
He is a member of St. 
John's Reformed Church, 
and of the Jr. O. U. A. M.. 
K. G. B., and P. O. B. or- 
ganizations. 





STICHLER & SCHAEFFER SHOE STORE 



JAMES SCHAEFFER 

was born June 26, 1856, in 
Maxatawny township. He 
is the son of Mr. and Mrs. 
(Christ) David Schaeffer. 
He received his training at 
the Keystone State Normal 
School. He taught several 
yeejrs and for 32 years 
conducted his fatther's 
farm, which later became 
his own. In 1909 he re- 
tired and moved to Kutz- 
town. He is now a mem- 
ber of the well known 
Stichler and Schaeffer shoe 
retailing business. He is 
an active membter of St. 
John's Reformed Church, 
having been a member of 
the consistory for many 
years. He i"^ also a trus- 
tee of the Keystone State 
Normal School and treas- 
urer of Hope Cemetery 
Board. In 1877 he was 
married to Rosa Bortz. 
They have seven children. 







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221 



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THE SAUCONY SHOE FACTORY 



The Sauconv Shoe JIanuilacturing Company, Inc.. has a capacity of 250.000 pairs 
of shoes annually. The firm employs ninety hands and the pay roll is ,$5000.00 per month. 




KUTZ'S MODEL BAKERY AXH DWELLING 

proprietor of the Jlodel Bakery located on East Main St.. Kutzto\vn, came back to his 
natiye to\yn in 1910 and started in the baking business. In 1912 he erected a fine home 
and added a storeroom to his bakery and the past year a big stab'e to the rear. In 
this time he has built up a large trade. He has an average output of 275.000 loaves of 
bread a year, together with a great deal of pastry. Mr Ivutz is a son of Jacob 
D and wife Ellameda, and was born in Kutztown, May IT. 1885. Mr. Kutz is the great- 
great-grandson of Geo. Kutz, the founder of Kutztown. He learned his trade with George 
Rabich of Allentown. and worked six years at Lansdale when he came back to Kutztown. 
He is a member of St. John's Reformed Church, of Kutztown. He \vas married to Vera 
M. Wuchter on June 24, 1905, and their union has been blessed by two children, Mildred 
and Ethel. 



222 




WEXZ CO>rPAXY, Allcntown, Pa. 



manufacturers of memorials, AUentown, Pa. This 
industry, which is one of the largest in the State, 
was formed in Kutztown. The orginators. Wenx 
Brothers, started in a small way, but gradually grew 
until to-day they have placed beautiful monumients, 
tombstones, vaults', and mausoleums in practically 
every cemetery in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. 

In 1912 they built a modern plant on West Hamil- 
ton street, AUentown, near the Duck Farm Hotel, and 
moved their business to that city in July, 1913. 



They have more than doubled their output and em- 
ploy close on to 100 men. The present afficers and 
directors are : Wm. Wenz, president ; T. E. Hensinger, 
secretary and treasurer. Directors, William Wenz, 
T. E. Hensinger, J. D. Wenz, Lawrence J. Rupp, Har- 
vey Bascom, C. L. Hollenbach. and E. S. Eterts. 

The above picture is a reproduction of one of the 
finest monuments in Kutztown, that of John R. Gon- 
ser, erected by the Wenz Company on Fairview ceme- 
tery. 



223 




A. M. HERMAN, 

Proprietor 



HERIVIAN'S FIVE AND TEN CENT STORE 

KutztowD, Pa., was born June 11, 1860, in Greenwich township, the son of James Herman 
and his wife Catharine Haring. He wab married to Annie T. Hoch, Nov. 1, 1891. They had 
one child, Charles W., deceased. He learned the coachmaking trade at II. Miller's Son, 
working five years. He followed the same trade at Reading and Sinking Spring for two 
years. He traveled through the west for one year and returned to Kutztown in fall when 
he started in b^lsines&. known as the Five and Ten Cent Store at east corner of what is 
now Mr. Kohler's residence, where he remained until the spring of 1885 when he moved to 
his present place where has conducted a successful business for 30 years. Mr. Herman 
is known by all as "Uncle Aust" and has the credit of opening the first Five and Ten Cent 
Store in Kutztown. Mr. Herman is a memter of St. John's Lutheran Church. Kutztown, a 
charter member of K. G. E., No. 70, Kutztown, a member of Jr. O. U. A. M., No. 1004, 
Kutztown, and also a member of Modern Woodmen, Allentown. He is one of the organ- 
izers of Kutztown Park Association and is a member of the present board of dire<'tors. His 
store and home are located on southeast corner of Main, street and Strausser alley. 




PLANT OF THE ALLENTOWN DEMOCRAT AND EVENING ITEM 

Democrat Publishing Company. Allentown, Pa., publishers of Allentown Democrat, daily 
morning paper, and Allentown Item, daily evening paper. Largest guaranteed city circula- 
tion in Allentown. 



224 




DBISHER KNITTING HDI/LS 

Deisher Knittins: Mills furnish employment to fifty or more hands and the mer- 
chandise has earned a reputation in the retail trade. In 1900 the entire buildmg was raised 
three feet from its foundation and another story added. Annexes were built in 1903 and 
1907. The present officers are : .John R. Gonser, President : Philip D. Hoch, Treasurer ; 
L. R. Seidell, Secretary, and H. K. Deisher, Manager. 




SHANKWEILER BROS. 



started in the dry goods, notions, carpets, and rug 
business in the Hinterleiter Building on Main street. 
February 1, 1904. For three years the business was 
transacted under the firm name of .T. V. Shankweiler 
& Sons. In the year 1907 the senior member of the 
firm retired, when the name was chan.tfed to Shank- 
weiler Bros. The firm was composed of H. O. Shank- 



weiler, E. II. Shankweiler. and J. S. Shankweiler. In 
190'9 the former member withdrew and became af- 
filiated with R. W. Hinterleiter & Co., of Allento^™. 
During this period the Messrs. Shankweiler Bros, be- 
came well established and have a hi,? trade. They 
have an extra clerk employed and are efficiently 
meeting the demands of the people. 



225 




V. S. <;. BIBBER'S STOXE CRUSHIXG PLANT 

The Stoue CrusliinR Plant ot Dr. U. S. G. Bieber. of Kutztown, occupies an ideal loca- 
tion. The works are busy continually in furnishing crushed stone and lime. 




GOOD SERVICE HARDWARE STORE 

Kutztown. E. P. DeTurk. the owner and proprietor, was born Dec. 11. 1865. in Maxatawny 
township, the son of William and Elizabeth (Butz). In 1886 Mr. DeTurk was employed by 
Walter Bieber with whom he served for six years, when he bought out Zach Miller's hard- 
ware business, located in C. W. Miller's Building on Main street, where he conducted a 
successful business from 1892 to 1904. He then erected a large store opposite his former 
business place and stocked it with general hardware. The total floor space is 12.000 square 
feet, including a warehouse. During these eleven years in his new buildinc he has been 
very successful in building u-i an extensive trade. He was married to Lizzie A. Deisher in 
1880 and the following children are living, one George D. dead : .Tohn W., aged 26, and 
Ijawrence A., aged 24. are assisting their father in the business; Lloyd E.. 22; Harry C, 
19; Olive H. E.. 17; Lillian M.. 15; Grace I.. 12; Chas. A.. 10; Mary A.. 8. and Esther ('., 
5. He is a member of St. Paul's Reformed Church and of the consistory ot the church. He 
Is a borough auditor. He lives in a fine home on Walnut street. 

226 



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U. B. KETNEK 
Proprietor 



KTJTZTOWN PAJPER BOX FACTORY 

U. B. Ketuer, paper bDX raaniifactuier, of Kutztowu, since 1907. was bDru in Upper Bern 
township, Berks county, April 18, 1S76. He is a son of Isaac B. Ketner and his wife Emma S. (nee 
BLUman). During his early years Mr. Ketner was engaged in farming and from 1893 to 1897 was a 
telegraph operator, Mr. Ketner is a member of St. John's lyUtheran Church. Past-president of 
Kutztown Aerie. No. 839, F. O. E-: a member of Adonai Castle, No. 70, K. G. R., and Charles A. 
Gerasch Council, No. ioh, Jr. O. U. A. M. He served this borough as constable since igu. He was 
married to Emma E. Heckraan. The union was blessed with four children ; Osville V. B., aged 19 ; 
James D., 16; Mabel B., 14, and George E., 8. Thej live on Park avenue. 




THE BLACK HORSE HOTEL 

The Black Horse Hotel, one of Kutztown's oldest hostelries, situated on the cornet- of 
Main and Noble streets. .T. E. Wentz is' the present proprietor who through his good 
service and courtesy has earned the reputation and title ot being one of Berks county's best 
hotel men. 



227 




THE KEYSTOXE SHOE FACTORY 

Home ot the Keystone Shoe ManutactuririH Company, where 200,000 pairs of children's, 
misses' and Kro\vinpj-j?irls' goodyear welts are turned out annually. One hundred and fifty 
employees earn $7000.00 per month. 




JONATHAN S. KNITTI/E'S AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKS 

dealer in agricultural implements and gasoline engines, has modern quarters and conducts 
a " ■ business. Mr. Knittle was engaged in farming for a number of years and therefore 
knows the wants of the tillers of the soil. 



228 






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229 




THE KEYSTONE HOUSE 

Kutztowa, one of the town's well known hostelries and a favorite traveling men's stopping 
place, conducted on a modern plan ty Worth A. Dries. Mr. Dries is a son of Daniel A. 
and wife Mary Hawkins, and was born Feb. 18. 1S75, at Blandon, Pa. He spent his early 
years on the farm and later as bar clerk at the Mineral Springs Hotel. He learned the 
trade of cigar making and tailoring, and worked at both trades a few years. In 1901 he 
assisted his father at the Keystone House, Kutztown, becoming the proprietor in 1911. He 
has conducted this hotel ever since in a manner which is a credit to himself and the town. 
He is a member of P. 0. S. of A. Lodge, No. 103, Fleetwood ; K. G. E., No. 570, Fleetwood, 
and F. O. E. No. 839, Kutztown. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Kutztown, 
and Kutztown Fire Company: was one of the organizers of the Kutztown Poultry Association 
and at the present time is the president of the local association and vice president of the 
Pennsylvania State Poultry Association. He was married to Katie F. Dangler on .Tan. 13, 
1900, and they have one child, Mary Sarah, aged 10 years. 




pennsyIjVANia house 

Kutztown, one of the old landmarks, is conducted with success along modern lines by 
George P. Angstadt. This hotel is known in the entire state b.v its good treatment and fine 
meals. The present proprietor. Geo. P. Angstadt, was born Oct. 13, 1868, the son of James 
and wife, Mary Haring. His career started on the brickyard where he worked tour years ; 
learned the carriage painting trade at R. Miller's Son ; worked 13 years in Keystone Shoe 
Manufacturing Company, as laster. He became proprietor, in 1900. of Penn.sylvania House 
in which business he is at present engaged. He has held an annual political banquet tor 
the last 14 years, which event has become a fixture. As a caterer he is well known to all. 
serving alumni of Keystone State Normal School, various organizations and associations of 
all sorts. He was married to Alice Hilbert on May 24, 1895, and the following children 
bless their union : Ella M.. aged 24 ; Anna, 22, and Marguerite, wife of Dr. A. C. Stever, of 
Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of St. Paul's Reformed Church, K. G. E., No. 70, Kutz- 
town, and F. O. E., No. 839, Kutztown. 

230 




N. S. SCHMEHL 
Proprietor 




SCHMEHL*S HARDWAKE STORE 

Kutztown, N. S. Schmehl, owner and proprietor. The hardware business in Kutztown is 
an old one and is discussed in the history under old stores. This establishment is the oldest 
in town. N. S. Schmehl was born Sept. 1. 1850, in Ruscombmanor township, the son of 
Samuel and wife Marietta (nee Snyder). Mr. Schmehl was raised on the farm till he at- 
tained the age of 22 years. lie worked as a painter in Reading for one year, and then 
came to Kutztown, where he was employed as a clerk for two years, by his uncle, S. S. 
Schmehl, in his hardware store, located wbere Livingood's barber shop now is. He left 
Kutztown and found employment with J. L. Stichter and Son, hardware business, remain- 
ing there two years, when he returned to Kutztown and bought out his uncle's hardware 
business in 1S7S and has been in Kutztown ever since, buying his present property in March. 
1889. Mr. Schmehl and his son Trumian, are enjoying an extensive trade which they 
developed by giving their best attention to it. He is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. 
Kutztown, l*a. ; member of Church Council for 25 years ; treasurer of the Borough for 26 
years, and director of Keystone Shoe Manufacturing Co. His fine home is on Upper Main 
street. He was married to Louisa Scheidt and they have the following children : Bernard 
S., Truman. Clara Belle, wife of Harry S. Walker; Hilda S., deceased and Esther I^. Mrs. 
Schmehl died in February, 1912. 




H. J. fegIjEY's show room 

plumber, is one of the borough's successful business men. In 1909 he began to serve the 
people in these parts and has since established a big trade. His volume of business 
amounts to over $20,000 annually. In 1913 he bought the D. K. Springer home. He 
made extensive renovations and added a roomy one-story brick structure on the rear of 
the lot which he uses as a work shop. The sales and show room i& one of the prettiest in 
the town. In 1909 Mr. Fegley was married to Esther Irene Benedict, of Syracuse, N. Y. 



231 




>IARK B. HOLL 

owner and proprietor of HoU's f^team Bakery. This baking business in Kutatown dates back 
quite a few years, but its location is still an enterprising establishment. The bakery 
was started by Charles Aner and was conducted in their order by Wm. Muth. C. J. Rhode. 
Lichtenwalner and Sacker, C. J. Rhode for 13 years, during which it was rebuilt, Daniel 
Kercher, Schoedler and Bros., at this time it was again rebuilt by C. J. Rhode who sold 
to Mark, Herbert and James Holl who conducted the business for two years. James then 
withdrew from the firm and enjraged in a similar business at Fleetwood. In 1911, Herbert 
also withdrew and is now located in West Reading. Mark D. Holl, the sole owner, has 
now lieen in business two years and under his expert guidance, business has freatly in- 
creased. He has five hands employed and bakes at least 5000 loaves of bread weekly, 
besides many dozen buns and fancy cakes. Mr. Holl is a son of Benjamin and wife Mary 
A. Hain, and was born Nov. 15, 1876, at Wernersville. He attended the schools of Lower 
Heidelberg township and then learned the hat making trade with G. W. Alexander and 
Company, and was in their employment for eighteen years. He moved to Kutztown, August 
22, 1910. He is a memiber of St. Paul's Reformed Church, Kutztown, Pa. ; K. G. E., No. 
487, West Reading. Pa. ; Knights of Malta. No. 247. Reading, Pa. ; P. O. S. of A., Read- 
ing, Pa. ; F. O. E., No. 839. Kutztown, Pa., and Grand Fraternity, No. 70, Reading, Pa. 




YOUXG BROS. 

of Allentown. House of Betters Hats and Clothes; the store that Kutztown people niiide 
famous by their patronage. 



232 




{(JiTVi^ 



/^eading.Pa^ 



Hippie and Company, of Reading, the offlcial decorators of the Kutztown Centennial 
Association. Mr. Hippie and an able corps of assistants, decorated the columns and arches 
and did all the illuminatinK seen on the streets of Kutztown during Centennial Week 
Man.v of the business places and homes of the town were decorated by them. No job is too 
small or too big for Mr. Hippie — they go anywhere. 




THE READING EAGLE'S BIG PERFECTING PRESS 




The Reading Eagle was established by Jesae G. Hawley and William S. Ritter. the first 
issue appearing .January 28, 1868. .Tesse G. Hawley became the sole owner of the Daily 
Basle in November, 1874. February 25, 1877, Mr. Hawley began publishing a Sunda.v 
edition of the Eagle, which has gained a large circulation. It was started as a folio, but it 
now comprises 22 or more pages. After the death of Mr. Hawley, April 19, 1903, the 
Reading Eagle Company was formed with Kate E. Hawley (widow of .Jesse G. Hawley), 
President, and John W. Ranch, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers of the Reading Eagle 
Company now are : William Seyfert, President ; Edwin A. Quier, Vice-President ; John W. 
Ranch, Secretary, Treasurer and Superintendent. As evidence of the progress made by 
the Daily Eagle, it might be stated that in 1872 its circulation was 2505 copies' a day, while 
the sworn circulation for the first five months of 1915 was 22,287 copies a day. 



233 



COMPLETE MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS 




marble and granite works, located at the corner of 
Greenwich and Schley streets, Kutztown. is one of the 
borough's busiest industries. In 1907 he equipped his 
plant with all of the most modern appliances, which 
enables him to handle all orders promptly and satis- 
factorily. Mr. Ilamer commenced business in 1905 
at the present location, doing his work alone ^y hand 



A Specimen 
of Mr. Ramer's Work 

for two years. Business increased continually until 
at the present time he employs eight mechanics. 

Mr. Ramer was born January 23. 1879. a son of 
William and Susan (nee Smith) Ramer. In 1900 he 
was married to Laura Luckenbill. They have two 
children, William A., aged 15 ; Howard S.. aged 3 
years, and one daughter died in infancy. 




KOCH BROTHERS, ALLENTOWN, PA. 

THE BIG CLOTHING STORE FOR MEN AND BOYS. ESTABLISHED 1876 

234 




FEICK & CO.»S COAIv, FEED, AND LUMBER YARDS 

Flour, Feed. Coal and I^umber Station. Kutztown. Pa. The members of the company are 
W. W. Feick, who is the acting' manager and J. K. Wertz. They started in business in April, 
1912, purchasing the business conducted by John A. Schwoyer from the Roeller Estate. 
The farmers bring their grain here for cash or exchange. They enjoy a big coal and lum- 
ber trade and ship on the average 22,000 bushels of "wheat and large quantities of rye, 
potatoes, corn, etc. W. W. Feick is a son of Harrison and wife, IMary Wagner, tiorn at 
Shartlesville. He worked on the farm until he was 24 years old, and then went into the 
creamery business at Rehrersburg, Uothrocksville and Stony Point; in the feed and grain 
tiusiness at Bowers, and now in Kutztown. He was married to Elizabeth Wertz and their 
union Avas blessed with the following children : Willis, Rufus and Edna. J. K. Wertz is a 
brother-in-law to Mr. Feick and is a son of Wm. Wertz, of Strausstown. 




DAVID A. ADAM, CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER 
KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr. Adam has erected many substantial structures in and around 
Kutztown. He looks after details himself and has a number of efficient 
employees who assist him in his work. Small job and repair work re- 
ceive the same attention as big orders Contractor Adam will be pleased 
to estimate on anything in the building line. 





DAVID A. ADAM 



A MODERN HOME 



235 




J. T. FRITCH'S NEW HOME 

Kutztown, Pa., was born March 13, 1859. His parents were Allen \V. Fritch and Mary A. 
(Jackson). Mr. Fritch learned the printers' trade with Isaac Christ; next engaged in cigar 
business as manufacturer and dealer, started in barber business with his brother at Key- 
stone House (James Frey. Prop.) ; organized the first laundry in Kutztown at site where 
now Diesher's knitting mill is located. Solon Wanner and Mr. Fritch opened up the first 
job printing place, selling out to Al. Christ. He again engaged in the barber business, and 
in the meantime selling phonographs and framed pictures at the site which is now the 
business place of Harry Smith. He moved to the Black Horse Hotel in 1908 and remained 
there till May 10, 1915, and now is located opposite the Central House where he is engaged 
in the pop corn manufacturing business. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, 
Kutztown; K. G. E.. No. 70, Kutztown; F. O. E.. No. 830. Kutztown; Jr. 0. U. A. M., and 
Loyal Order of Moose. No. 155, Reading. He was married to S. Ellen Schlegel and tbey 
have the following children: Gertrude, age 32; Allen H., aged 30; Neda, aged 28; Wayne, 
afted 25; Wirt, aged 21. and George, deceased, aged 5. 




KtTTZTOWX MOTOR CAR COMPANY'S GARAGE 

The Kutstftown Motor Car Company, composed of Dr. N. Z. Dunkelberger, president, 
and A. K. Lesher, secretary and general manager, began to do business in 1912. The 
garage is one of the most modern in Berks county. 



236 



B. &. J. SAYLOR 
PENN SQUARE, READING, PA. 

For nearly half the life of Kutztown the name 
" B. & J. Saylor" has stood for pure foods and for 
the highest value in food stuffs, consistent with qual- 
ity and excellence. 

For many years it has been the largest distrib- 
utor of foods in the County and one of the big in- 
stitutions of Berks, because the people have learned 
to know that if a thing is bought at Baylor's it is 
right in quality, right in price, and right and reliable 
in every way. 



L. D. CLAUSS 

of AUentown, in appreciation of business rela- 
tions existing between citizens of Kutztown and 
L. D. Clauss, bottler of Birch Beer and Soft 
Drinks, 318-329 N. Franklin St., AUentown, Pa. 



237 




■„.»M 

BONE, EAGLE & CO. 

corner Eighth and Franklin streets, Reading, Pa. — 
This well known firm was organized in 1892 as a 
wholesale and jobbing confectionery house and con- 
sisted of George T. Bone, Leonard L. Eagle and 
Charles R. Eagle. In 1906 they erected the building 
which they now occupy, having found their former 
quarters inadequate. Some time later they began the 
manufacture of some lines of confectionery and have 
established quite an extensive trade, shipping part 
of their products to the different States. 

The withdrawal of Leonard L- Eagle some years 
ago leaves the firm composed of George T. Bone and 
Charles R. Eagle, who are always pleased to meet 
their friends at the "corner," and whose motto is 
"Always Something New." 



STICHTER HARDWARE COMPANY 

505 to 509 Penn street, Reading, Pa. — Dealers in 
Hardware, Iron, and Steel. — Is known as the "Old 
White Store," established in 1798, and. is the seventh 
oldest Hardwa/e Store in the United States. 

The original building was erected by Colonel 
Conrad Weiser in 1775, and was used as an Indian 
trading post for some years. 



23S 



CHRONICLE AND NEWS 



Allentown, Pa. Issued every daj', except Sun- 
day, by the Chronicle and News PubHshing Com- 
pany, successors to the estate of Robert Iredell, 
Jr. Rodney R. Iredell, president ; Florence Ire- 
dell Berger, secretary and treasurer. 

A newspaper that publishes all the news of 
Lehigh county and the latest telegraphic and 
State news dailj'. A paper that is read by many. 
The official Republican organ in the Lehigh A^al- 
lev. 



HERSH BROS. 

Allentown, Pa. Congratulations on the one hnn 
dredth anniversary of Kutztown. Manufacturers 
of the Hersh, Lehigh, Black Diamond and Dewey 
Furnaces, Galvanized Iron, Copper Cornices, and 
Metal Trimmings, 829 Hamilton St., Allentown, 
Pa. 



THE KUTZTOWN PUBLISHING CO. 




DESIGNERS AND PRODUCERS OF 
FINE PRINTING : : : : 



239 




THE LATE DANIEL P. GRUL Sr. 

Formerly one of Kutztown's most esteemed 
citizens. 



240 



CENTENNIAI^ HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



241 



ANNALS OF KUTZTOWN, PA. 



XnTK. — M. B. indicates items taken from the 
minute bool< of Kutztown Borough Council. W. 
D. indicates items taken from the diar}' of John 
G. Wink. 

The Historical Committee hereby acknowledges 
gratefully the kindness of Mr. John D. Wink 
who allowed them access to the diary and other 
papers of his father. 



1724- 



1729 
1729- 

173^- 

1732 

1734- 

1736- 
1736 

1740- 



1742 



1747- 



1752 



1 75 J 
f753 

1753 
1753- 
1755- 



— Dec. I, one thousand acres patented by 
Peter Wentz. Richard Hill, Isaac Norris, 
James Logan, and Thomas Griffitts, com- 
missioners to Peter Wentz, "Province of 
Pennsylvania and County of Nev\' Castle- 
Sussex on the Delaware." 

— Johannes and Elizabeth Siegfried came 
from Oley to Siegfrieds Dale. Third 
daughter, Mary Elizabeth, (married Johan- 
nes Rothermel, Windsor township) said 
to be first white child born in Maxatawn\- 
township. 

—Nov. 17, Jacob Hottenstein bought 116 A. 
in Maxatawny from Caspar Wislar. 

—Nov. 18, Nicholas Coots (Coutz, Cutz, 
Kutz) purchased 150 acres of land -n Maxa- 
tawny township, Philadelphia county, for 
^52, 10 shillings. 

—Jacob and Christina Kutz settled on what 
is now the "Stock Farm" near Kutztown. 
(?) — Maxatawny (and Richmond) settled. 

—Maxatawny recommended a preaching point 
by the Rev. John Philip Boehm. 

—Road laid out from "King's Highway" in 
Oley to Jacob Levan's mill in Maxatawny. 

(?)-i739 (?) — John Heinrich Goetchius, boy 
preacher, preaches at "Macedonia" (Maxa- 
tawny.) 

—Feb. 7. Maxadawni [Maxatawny] elders 
[Daniel Levan and Peter Leibi] promise 
"four pounds of this country's currency" 
to the "annual salary of a Reformed minis- 
ter." Large stone mansion of Levan erect- 
ed near Eaglepoint. 

— Maxatawny township erected. Organiza- 
tion of Moselem Church. Count Zinzen- 
dorf, Moravian Missionary, preaches at Le- 
van's Mill near Eaglepoint. 
■Sept. 24, Michael Schlatter visited "Man- 
natawny" [Maxatawny.] 
Sept. 27, Michael Schlatter preached at 
"Manatawny" [Maxatawny]. 

-(?) — Philip Jacob Michael, begins to serve 
congregations in Maxatawny as Reformed 
pastor. 

-Berks county erected. 
March 11, passage of act creating the coun 
ty out of Philadelphia, Lancaster, and 
Chester counties. 

1760 — ^Jacob Levan, judge or justice of the 
county courts. 

-Colon)' of Moravians from Bethlehem 
passed through Kutztown to North Caro- 
lina. 

-Petition for opening of Easton Road. 

-March 23, death of Jacob Hottenstein. 

-Probable date of erection of old Ma.^a- 
tawny Reformed Church. 



1755 — Road from Easton to Reading surveyed by 
David Shultze. 

T755 — June 16, Jacob Wentz and wife, Eliza- 
beth, conveyed 130 acres along Saucony 
to George Kutz — Jacob Wentz having in- 
herited 550 acres from father, Peter Wentz. 

1756 — ^Rev. Dan'l Schumacher (Lutheran) preach- 
es at Maxetanien. 

1759 — Reformed "Maxatawny" church secedes 
(?) under Rev. Michael, moves to Bowers 
and establishes "Maxatawny" church (now 
DeLong's). 

1763 — Death of "Judge" Jacob Levan. 

1765 — Opening of Kemp's Hotel — according to 
legend on present sign. 

1767-1771 — Sebastian Zimmerman was Justice of 
the County Courts. 

1769 — February 18, Authorization of running of 
lines between Lancaster, Cumberland, and 
Berks, W., and Northampton and Berks, E. 

1771 — Mrs. Elizabeth Drinker at Levan's. 

1773 — August 21, "W," Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, 
Miss Kitty and Miss Nancv Lawrence, and 
Mr. E. Lawrence, passed over Easton Road 
westward, journeying from Philadelphia to 
Philadelphia, in topless chairs, via Bethle- 
hem, Nazareth, Easton, Allentown, Read- 
ing, and Lancaster. 

1775 — Jan. 23, Sebastian Levan sat as member of 
Provincial Committee for Pennsylvania. 

1775 — Tnly, Capt. George Nagle's troops from 
Reading en route to Cambridge, Mass., 
passed through Kutztown. 

1775 — July 22, Capts. Hendricks and Chambers 
stopped at Swan Inn. 

1775 — July 23, Morgan's Virginia Rifles pass 
through town. 

1776 — F"ebruary, British prisoners taken through 
to Reading. 

1776-1784 — Baltzer Geehr was Justice of the 
County Courts. 

1777 — Sept. 25 and 26, "Congress fleeing from 
Philadelphia to Lancaster and York by 
way of Bethlehem," passed through Kutz- 
town over the Easton Road. 

1777 — Sept. 25, John Adams stopped at "A Ger- 
man tavern, [Levan's] about eighteen miles 
from Reading." 

1777— Sept. — "Congress, fleeing from Philadel 
phia to Lancaster and York by way of 
Bethlehem'' must have passed through 
Kutztown over the Easton Road. 

1779 — Kutztown laid out by George Kutz. 

1782— Baltzer Geehr a member of the Pennsyl- 
vania Assembly. 

1783 — Dr. Johann David Schoepf, author of 
"Travels in the Confederation"' passes 
through Kutztown. 

1788— Levan's Inn becomes (George) Kemp's 
Hotel. 

1789 — Berks county divided into five election dis- 
tricts — the second district known as the 
Kutztown District, comprising Kutztown, 
Greenwich (separated 1799), Hereford 
(separated 181 1), Rockland (separated 



242 



CE.NTEXXIAL IIISTORV OF KUTZTOWN 



1816), Longswamp (separated 1817), Rich- 
mond (separated 1823), and Iilaxatawny 
(separated 1841). Polling place at pub- 
lic house of Philip Gehr. 

1790 — Old log St. John's Union Church erected. 

1792 — Helfrich's report on Kutztown and De- 
Long's in Maxatawny. 

1797 — July 19, William Henrv. John Heckewelder, 
John Rothrock, and Christian Clewell, Mo 
ravians, pass through Kutztown. returning 
from Gnadenhutten, Ohio. 

179S — Oct, vote of Kutztown district for Con- 
gressman : Joseph Heister, 555 : Daniel 
Clymer, 30. 

1799 — Capt. A'lontgomery's company of light drag- 
oons from Lancaster pass through Kutz- 
town to scene of i:"ries' rebellion. 

1800 — Stone house, Baldy's Lane and Main street, 
built by Adam Kutz. Population 203. 

1800 — George Kemp commissioned Jvistice of the 
Peace by Governor Thomas McKean, hold- 
ing office 34 years. 

1802 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor: 
Thomas McKean, Dem., 459 : James Ross, 
Fed., 34. 

1804 — Erection of parochial school begun. 

1805 — ^July I, post office established, third in Berks 
county, Reading, and Hamburg, being first 
and second. No other post office in this 
section till Grimville, Jan. 14, 1830. 

1805 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor : 
Thomas McKean, Ind. Dem., 375; Simon 
Snyder, Dem., 234. 

180S — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor : 
Simon Snyder, Dem., 356: John Spayd, Ind., 
287 ; James Ross, Fed,, 66. 

1814 — Dr. Ephraim Becker died. 

1814 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor: 
Simon Sndyer, Dem., 160 : Isaa ' Wayne. 
Fed., 246. 

1815 — Mar. I, Kutztown erected into a borough. 

1815 — May 20, it is "ordained that from and after 
ten days after the promulgation of this 
ordinance that no swine be suffered to run 
at large under the penalty of forfeiting 
for the use of the borough one hcJf of the 
value of such swine. — M. B. 

1816 — April 26. Fire ladders secured by Mr. Hen- 
ninger are ordered to be taken by the Su|)- 
ervisor to Jacob Balty's to be shod. A cov- 
er is ordered to be erected at the house of 
Mr. Henninger to protect the ladders from 
the weather. — M. B. 

1816, 1822-24, 1827— David Hottenstein niemlier 
of Legislature. 

1816, 1822-27, 1827— David Hottenstein member of 
Legislature. 

1817 — February 14, Town meeting at the house of 
Jacob Levan. 

1817 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor: 
Wm. Findlay. Dem., 296: Joseph Heister, 
Fed., 202. 

1818 — Dr. Christian Ludwig Schemm began prac- 
tice in Kutztown. 

1820 — Xov. 10, Heister festival at Kutztown. 
Twenty-five toasts were offered and drunk 
at a large meeting. 

1820 — Vote of the Kutztown District for Gov- 
ernor: William Findlay, Dem., 283: Jos- 
eph Heister, Fed., 22;^,. 



1823 — .April 18, .-\mongst the officers elected by 
Council was that of "Corder of Firewood," 
which was filled by John Behr. — M. B. 

182.3 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor: 
J. A. Schidtze, Dem., 184; Andrew Gregg, 
Fed., IS4- 

1824-1841 — Efforts to make Kutztown the county 
seat of "Penn county." 

1824 — ^July 23, An ordinance entitled "An ordi- 
nance to promote the peace and gcod order 
of the borough of Kutztown," was reported 
and passed. — M. B. 

1826 — Sunday School established in St. John's 
Union Church. 

1827 — April 17, Clerk is directed to draw up an 
ordinance to prohibit the exhibition of any 
shows within the limits of the Borough of 
Kutztown under the penalty of $2.00. — 
M. B. 

1828 — July 24, Above ordinance was repealed. — 
1\L B. 

182S — April 12, Sermon by Bishop John Seybert, 
German Methodist, at the house of Peter 
Xeff, now owned by Charles Kutz, opposite 
the Keystone Shoe Manufacturing Com- 
pany. 

1828 — Vote of Kutztown for President : .-\ndrew 
Jackson, Dem., 230 : John J. Adams, Xat. 
Rep., 23. 

1829 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor; 
George Wolf, Dem., 217; Joseph Ritner, 
.Anti-Mason, 109. 

18.30 — First fire engine purchased. 

1831 — May 3, Complaint to Council is made that 
the street in upper part of the borough is 
infected by a set of unruly boys to the great 
annoyance of passengers. High Constable's 
attention is directed to the matter— M. B. 

1832 — Vote of Kutztown for President: Andrew 
Tackson, Dem., 271 : William Wirt, X'at. 
Rep., 15. 

18,32 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor: 
George Wolf, Dem., 187: Joseph Ritner, 
.-\nti-AIason, 146. 

1833 — June 12. First number of "The Xeutralist" 
appeared. 

1S34 — .-Vpril 28, An ordinance was reported enti- 
tled "An ordinance to regulate the exhibi- 
tion of shows, theatrical representations, 
etc., within the limits of the borough of 
Kutztown and passed." — M. B. 

1834 — Xov. 20, A petition w'as presented from the 
Theatrical Society of the borough of Kutz- 
town praying to be exempted from the 
uenalty upon the exhibition of shows, thea- 
trical exhibitions, etc. The prayer was 
granted. — M. B. 

1835 — Franklin Academy opened in Benner house. 

1835 — Vote of Kutztown District for Governor: 
H. A. Muhlenlierg, Dem., 220: George 
Wolf, Ind. Dem., 100: Joseph Ritner, Anti- 
^lason, 120. 

1836 — Sept. I, Franklin .\cadeniy transferred to 
new building. 

18.36 — October, Visit of Governor Joseph Ritner; 
Secretary of State Thomas H. Burrow'es ; 
Hon. H. A. Muhlenberg, and General Wil- 
liam Henrv Harrison, candidate for presi- 
dency of the United States. 

1836 — Vote of Kutztown for President : Martin 
VanBuren, Dem., 2!;2; W. H. Harrison, 
Whig, 95- 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



243 



■ R.V- 



1837 

1837- 
1837- 

1838 

1838 
1838 

I839- 



1830- 
1840- 

1840 
1840- 



—Feb. I, Coach, operated by the Reading and 
Easton Line, {David Fister, Jacob Graff, 
and Charles Seagreavcs, proprietors") began 
daily, except Sundays, runs. Establishment 
of stage line from Kutztown to Norristown, 
via Boyertown. 

—Feb. 25, Mass meeting at David Fister's 
Hotel in interests of Hamburg-Kutztown- 
Allentown railroad. 

—Carriage factory established by R. Miller. 

3g; 1848; 1849; 1851 — Samuel Fegely mem- 
ber of Legislature. 

— Public Free School System adopted by 
Kutztown. 

— Franklin Academy incorporated. 

-Vote of Kutztown District for Governor: 
David R. Porter, Dem., 282 : Joseph Ritner, 
Anti-Mason, 156. 

-April 19, High Constable John Miller ap- 
peared before Council and stated that he 
could not employ any person to superintend 
the Borough Election unless he promised to 
pay each fifty cents. Council agreed to pay 
the amount. — M. B. 

-Visit of Martin Van Buren. 

-Second fire engine purchased. Population 

693- 

-Visit of the "Buckeve Blacksmith." 



-Jan. II, It was ordered to allow those who 
are able to earn a full day's wages 65 
cents and boys 50 cents. The supervisor 
was to have $1.00, hauling with two horses 
and one hand $2, hauling with three hors- 
es and one hand, $2.50, and hauling with 
four horses and one hand $3.00.— M. B. 

1840 — Mar. 2, Jonathan Grim appeared before 
the Council and wished the Town Council 
to dispose of the fire engine and the money 
received to be given towards purchasing 
a new engine. It was unanimously agreed 
to sell the engine. — M. B. 

1840 — Sept. .3, "On motion it. was unanimously 
agreed that Daniel Herzog shall have privi- 
lege to exhibit his flying horses 48 hours 
commencing tomorrow evening. Mr. Her- 
zog being a man with no legs, it was so 
agreed."— M. B. 

1840 — Sept. 25, John Houk and Jonathan S. Grim 
reported that thev had purchased a new 
fire engine for Five Hundred and Fifty 
Dollars. A committee consisting of Bieber, 
Bachman and DeTurk was appointed to 
find a suitable place for the new engine and 
report the following evening. The com- 
mittee reported the most suitable place for 
the engine house is where it now stands, 
it to be so altered as to suit the new engine. 
This was agreed to. — M. B. 

1840 — Vote of Kutztown for President : Martin 
Van Buren, Dem., 331 : William H. Harris- 
on, Whig, 134. 

1841 — Feb. 13, A motion was agreed to that the 
American Fire Company shall ascertain 
how much a fire bell will cost for the 
purpose of erecting the same on the engine 
house to give alarm in case of fire. 

1841 — Feb. 24, Reported that a letter was received 
with reference to the fire bell. It was 
agreed to order an iron bell of j.^ pounds 
at Reading the cost of which is to lie paid 
by the borough. — M. B. 

1841 — Tune r. Initial issue of "Geist dcr Zeit" by 
Hawrecht and Wink. 



1841-46— Samuel Fegely member of Slate Senate. 

1841 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor: David 
R. Porter, Dem., no; John Banks, Whig, 
,3.S- 

1842 — Feb. 9, It was ordered by Council that all 
ordinances and accounts which may here- 
after be passed shall be published in the 
German paper, "Geist der Zeit" of this bor- 
ough for which it was agreed to pay $4.00 
per year for such publication. — M. B. 

1842 — October, Institution of Brotherly Love 
Lodge, No. 77, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. (Discontinued January 1879). 

1844 — Fire Asociation, "American Fire Company," 
incorporated, April 2. 

1844 — Vote of Kutztown for President: Jas. K. 
Polk, Dem., 135 ; Henry Clay, Whig, 36. 

1844 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor: F. R. 
Shunk, Dem., 96 : Jos. Markle, Whig, 28. 

1844 — Alfred J, Herman member of Legislature. 

1845 — Black Horse Hotel built by Jacob Fisher. 

1847 — Select Academy opened by Prof. G. Denig 
Wolff, of Norristown, Pa. 

1848— June 26, President Van Buren paid a visit 
to our town. — W. D. 

1848— Sept. 7, Governor Johnston of Pennsylvania 
was in town. — W. D. 

1848— Feb. 16, Daniel Graef, Mexican soldier, 
• died in City of Mexico. — W. D. 

1848— Feb. 20, Peter Kutz, last of Revolutionary 
soldiers from town, died. — W. D. 

184S— July 31, Lewis Brown and William Marx, 
the only surviving volunteers from Kutz- 
town in the Mexican War, returned home 
and were received with much pomp and 
rejoicing. — W. D. 

1848 — Vote of Kutztown for President : Lewis 
Cass, 103 ; Zachary Taylor, 38. 

1848— Vote of Kutztown for Governor: M. 
Longstreth, Dem., 98; W. F. Johnson, 
Whig, 38. 

1840— June 24, Old church struck by lightning 

and steeple shattered. — W. D. 
1850 — Emmanuel Evangelical Association Church 

erected. Population, 640. 
1851 — Kutztown Iron Foundry and Machine Shop 

established bv Elias Jackson and Daniel 

B. Kutz. 

1851 — Sunday School of Grace Evangelical As- 
sociation started. 

1851 — William Heidenreich elected Associate 
Judge. 

1851 — Aug. 23, Col. Wm. Bigler, Democratic can- 
didate for Governor of Pennsylvania, was 
in Kutztown and made a short address. — 
W. D. 

1851 — Wed. Oct. 15, News todav is that Col. 
Bigler is elected Governor by a large ma- 
jority. At 8 o'clock, evening, the Whigs 
are going up Salt River in procession. — 
W. D. 

1851 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor: Wm. 
Bigler, Dem., 119; W. F. Johnson, Whig, 
42. 

1852 — Public School system accepted by Maxa- 
tawny. 

1852 — Vote of Kutztown for President : Frank- 
lin Pierce, Dtm., ii,; Winfield Scott, Whig, 

4=;- 

1854 — .April 6, Indians, Osceola, the great Indian 
chief, and wife, were in town. — W. D. 



244 



CENTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



1854 — Allcntowii Railroad Company incorporated. 

1854 — June 30, Appeared the lirst number Dcr 
Hirt, a religious-secular newspaper, edited 
by Rev. J. S. Herman and printed in Kutz- 
town. It had a circulation of twenty-two 
hundred. The last issue bears the date, 
June 20, 1856. 

l8^4 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor : Wm. 
Bigler, Dem., 89; Jas. Pollock, Whig, 6,3. 

1856 — Vote of Kutztown for President: James 
Buchanan, Dem., 129; Millard Fillmore, 
American, 48. 

1857 — June, Construction of East Pennsylvania 
Railroad begun, 

1857 — First lock-up built by Xathan Levan. 

1857 — Organization of Farmers' Mutual Fire In- 
surance Company of Berks and Lehigh 
counties. 

1857 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor : W. F. 
Packer, Dem., 136: David Wilmot, Free 
Soil, 43. 

1858 — July 26. Jacob Graeff, Esq., a well known 
and highly esteemed citizen and formerly 
a Representative of Berks county in the 
State Legislature, died in Kutztown, aged 
71 years, 10 months and 14 days. — W. D. 

1859 — May II, Last spike driven on East Penn- 
sylvania Railroad. 

1859 — August 18, Big fire in Kutztown when the 
house of John Fister and Jacob Essers 
house and barn, and S. Heckman's barn 
were consumed. — W. D. 

1859 — The Geist der Zeit states that ^lessrs. J. 
G., and V. A., D. A. and G. Wink have in 
contemplation the laying out of a public 
cemetery near that borough. The ground 
selected for the purpose adjoins the old 
burial ground and is one of the most elig- 
ible situations in the neighborhood. The 
ground was sold to the Hope Cemetery 
Association by the Messrs. Wink — W. D. 

i860 — Nov. 15, Opening of Fairview Seminary by 
Prof. H. R. Nicks. 

i860 — Vote of Kutztown for President: J. C. 
Breckenridge, Fusion Dem., 107; Abraham 
Lincoln, Rep., 80 ; Stephen A. Douglass, 
Dem., 6; John Bell, American, 3. 

i860 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor. H. D. 
Foster, Dem.. 116: Andrew G. Curtin, Rep., 
81. 

1861 — ^June 15 and 16, Fairview Cemetery conse- 
crated. 

1861 — Sept. 17, Hope Cemetery incorporated, 
(Consecrated June 22, 1862). 

1862 — Sunday, June 22, the dedication of Hope 
Cemetery took place. Rev. Mr. Meise 
preached in the forenoon and Rev. Mr. 
Krat in the afternoon. Rev. Hinterleiter 
read the dedication service. — W. D. 

1862 — Jan. — First interment in Hope Cemetery. 
(John D. Bielier, died Dec. 30, 1861). 

1862 — Erection of second public school building. 
White Oak street. 

1863 — Dramatic Club organized. 

1863 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor : G. W. 
Wooddward, Dem., in: A. G, Curtin, Rep.. 
64. 

1863 — Kutztown .\cademy opened in public school 
building. 

1864 — \'otc of Kutztown for President: George" 
B. McClellan, Dem.. iii: Abraham Lin- 
coln, Rep., 5t. 



1864, — Sept. — Opening of Maxatawny Seminary. 
(Kutztown Academy with changed name 
removed to site of Keystone Siate Nor- 
mal School). 

1864 — Feb. 13, The citizens of this enterprising 
borough without making any fuss about it, 
sent sixteen volunteers to town last Sat 
urday, who were duly accepted and placed 
to the credit of the town thus escaping 
the draft. The recruits were paid a bounty 
of $350.00 each, which was raised by a loan 
of $5,000 on the credit of the borough, 
authorized by resolution of the Town Coun 
cil, passed sth inst. The names of the 
Kutztown volunteers are : James Sander, 
Jonathan Sander, James Glasser, I.saac 
Bobst, Frank Breneiser, James Angstadt, 
John Gross, Thomas Glenny, George Sand- 
er, Thomas Bower, D. A. Geiger, John 
Jackson, Daniel Dixon. William B. Leiser, 
Daniel Reed and David Schneider. — Read- 
ing Newspaper. 

186s — Sept. 17, Laying of cornerstone of Key- 
stone State Normal School. 

i8i5 — Sept. 13. Acceptance of Maxatawnv Sem- 
inary as Normal School for Third District. 
Sept. 15, dedication of the Normal. 

1866— Aug. 18, John L. Fisher died, aged 77 years, 
1 month and 22 days. — W. D. 

1866 — David Kutz elected Associate Judge. 

i865 — November 29, Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, 
F. and A. M.. constituted. 

i856 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor: Heister 
Clymer, Dem,, 120 : John W. Gearv, Rep,, 
62. 

1867 — Nov. 24, David Levan died aged 56 years, 

8 months and 20 days. — W. D. 
1868— Oct. 13, Capt. Alvin Dewev died here to- 
day aged 66 years, 7 months and 1 1 days. 

He was a native of Connecticut. — W. D. 
1868 — Vote of Kutztown for President : Hor. 

Seymour, Dem., 121 ; U. S. Grant, Rep., 50. 
1869 — First grain warehouse erected by Gonser 

and Hefifner. 
1869 — June 9, Work on Kutztown Branch R. R. 

begun. 
1869— Nov. 12, Dr. Chas. H. Wanner died, aged 

42 years, 2 months and 9 days. — W. D. 

1869 — Kutztown Savings Bank established. 
i86g — Nov. 29, Meeting of Grand Lodge, F. and 

A. M., ill Kutztown and institution of 

Huguenot Lodge, No. 377, Ancient York 

Masons. 
1869 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor: Asa 

Packer, Dem., 130; John W. Gear}', Rep., 

4.S. 
1870 — Tan. 10, Initial trip of railroad passenger 

train to Topton. 
1870 — Feb. 3, Lssue of first number of "The 

Kutztown Journal." 
1870 — May 20, Founding of the "Harugari," 

"Silver Spring Tannerj-" established liy J. 

D. Sharadin. 
1870 — Population, 945. 

1870 — July 22, David Kutz, of Ma.xatawny died, 

aged 75 years. — W. D. 
1870 — Peabody Savings Bank organized. 

Organization of the American Mechanics. 

Junior. 

Kutztown Foundry burned. 
1870-72 — Hiram H. Schwartz member of Le.gis- 

lature. 



CENTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



245 



1S71 — May 17, Reformed Sunday School (now 
St. Paul's) organized. 

1871 — Oct. 7, Uncle David Fister died, aged 69 
years. He was chief burgess of the bor- 
ough at the time of his demise and for 
some years past. — W. D. 

1871 — National Bank of Kutztown chartered. 
Engine house erected by borough. 

1872 — May 27, Ca"t. Daniel Bieber died, aged 
76 years. — W. D. 

1872 — Organization of Knights of Pythias. 

Oct. 1872, Horace Greeley visits Kutz- 
town. 

1872 — Oct. 2, Hon. Horace Greeley delivered an 
address at the agricultural fair. — ^W. D. 

1872 — Vote of Kutztown for President : Horace 
Greeley, Dem., 121; U. S. Grant, Rep., 50. 

1872 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor: C. R. 
Buckabew. Dem., 155 ; J. F. Hartranft, 
Rep., 59. 

1873 — February 10, Telegraph service established 
in the building now occupied by A. S. 
Christ's stationery store. Calvin Fister 
was the first operator. 

Machine shop erected (near Saucony) by 
Isaac Wentzel and Sons. 

1873 — July 2, Ground broken for erection of Kutz- 
town Furnace. 

1873 — Organization of "Daughters of Liberty" 

(disbanded 1876). 

(Free) Organization of Maxatawnv Grange 

No. 14. 
1874 — May, 16, Initial issue of "The American 

"Weekly Patriot." 

Organization of Maxatawnv Grange No. 

1874 — Aug. 2, Cornerstone of Trinity Lutheran 
chapel laid. Dec. 2S, dedication. 
Visit of Senator Alexander Ramsej'. 

1875 — Kutztown Furnace erected. 

1875 — Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Chape! dedi- 
cated. 

Organization of the Berks County Poultry 

Association. 
1875 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor : C. L. 

Pershing, Dem., 186: J. F. Hartranft, Rep., 

6.> 
1S75 — Saturday, April 3, George Humbert died, 

aged 70 years, 11 months and 61 days. — W. 

D. 
1875 — 'Wednesday, June 9th, Lewis K. Hotten- 

stein died, aged 59 years. — W. D. 
1875 — Sunday, Sept. 26, Funeral of John Miller, 

of Kutztown, was held. Deceased was 81 

years old. — W. D. 
1875— Thursday. Oct. 7th, Judge Humphrey and 

Governor Hartranft were in town. — W. D. 
1875— Wednesday, Dec. i, Daniel Kutz died, aged 

92 years, 7 months and 12 days. — W. D. 
1876 — The church of the old Union congregation, 

Kutztown, was razed. — W. D. 
1876— Sunday, June 4th. The cornerstone of St. 

John's Union Church, Kutztown, was laid. 

— W. D. 
1876— Sunday, July 22, Dr. Chas. A. Gerasch died 

aged 77 years, 9 months and 5 days. — W. D. 

1876— September 2, Judge Isaac Story, of Mass., 
was a visitor in Kutztown — W. D. 

1876— Tuesday, Nov. 28, Funeral of Jacob Hot- 
tenstein was held. Deceased was aged 89 
years, i month and 5 days. — W. D. 



1876— October 7th, Ex-Governor Alexander, Ram- 
sey, of Minnesota, who taught school in 
Kutztown from 1835 to 1857, was a visitor 
here.— "W. D. 

1876— lune 4, Laying of cornersionc of new St, 
John's Union Church. 

July 4, Erection of "Centennial Monu- 
ment.'' 
July 22, Death of Dr. Charles A. Gerasch. 

1876 — Celebration of the "Centennial" of Ameri- 
can Independence. 

Erection of "Centennial Monument" on 
campus of Normal School. 

1876 — Vote of Kutztown for President: S. J. 
Tilden, Dem., 207; R. B. Hayes, Rep., 58 

1877— October 28, St. John's Union Church dedi- 
cated. 

1878 — Vote of Kutztown for Governor: Andrew 
H. Dill, Dem., 185 : Henry M. Hoyt, Rep., 
68. 

1879 — Feb. 6, David Hottenstein, son of Jacob, 
died, aged 71 years. — W. D. 

1879 — March 2, Wm. Xander, of Indiana, who 
came to visit his native place died today. 
-W. D. 

1880— March 25, Uncle Isaac GraefT, of town, was 
buried today, aged 83 years. — W. D. 

i83o— July 9, Jacob Sunday died last night after 
a long and painful illness, aged 72 years, 
7 months and 13 days. — W. D. 

1880— July 12, Capt. Jacob Humbert died aged 
86 years.— W. D. 

1879— August 18, Daniel Rose Levan died sud- 
denly aged 64 years. — W. D. 

1880— Sept. 22, David Sheradin died almost sud- 
denly this morning, aged 73 years, 22 days. 
— W. D. 

1880 — Population, i,ig8. 

1880— Vote of Kutztown for President: W. S. 

Hancock, Dem.. 212; J. A. Garfield, Rep., 

80. 
1881— March 30, Jonathan Bieber, farmer, died, 

aged 56 years, 3 months and 2^ days. — 

W. D. 

1881— October 21, "Wm. B. Wanner died aged 64 
years. — W. D. 

i88t — Kutztown Creamery Association organized- 

1S82— Jan. 20, Wm. Hottenstein, Esq., of Maxa- 
tawny, died at the great age of 91 vears 
and 12 days. — W. D. 

1882- August 28, Gen. Beaver, Republican candi- 
date for governor, was in town. — W. D. 

1882 — Eck's Hosiery Factory established. 

1882- Vote of Kutztown for Governor: R. E. 
Pattison, Dem., 204: Jas. S. Beaver, Rep., 
74; John Stewart, Ind., 2. 

1883 — Kutztown Shoe Factory established. 

1883— July 17, One of the boilers of the Kutz- 
town Furnace exploded this morning at 4 
o'clock, killing a young man of 20 years of 
age, named Frank Waltman, and injuring 
a number of other employees, several fatal- 
ly, besides damaging the furnace many 
thousand dollars. — W. D. 

1883 — August 14, Solomon Leibensperger, aged 
92 years and 7 months, died this morn- 
ing.— W. D. 

1883— Sept. 18, Col. Daniel B. Kutz died, aged 
79 years, 4 months and 2 days. Col. Kutz 
was for 30 years a member of the firm of 
Heidenreich and Kutz, merchants. — W. D. 



246 



CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWN 



iPS^— Octolicr 25, Daniel Q. Hottenstein died, 
n.eed 31 years and 2 days. Five ministers 
officiated at the funeral. — W. D. 

iS8,? — December 27. Jonathan Glasser died, aged 
91 years. — W. D. 

1884 — Hiram H. Schwartz elected Jud.ee of Or- 
phans' Court. 

1884 — Cleveland Festival, Nov. 21 : 1200 pound 
ox roast ; grand parade, 300 men on horsc- 
liack from various points: grand feast: 
erection of 160 ft. Liberty pole. 

1884 — March 26, Joshua Bieber died this evening, 
aged 67 years, 7 months and 2'-, davs. — 
VV. D. " 

1884 — April 3, Nathan Zimmerman, of our town 
died suddenly today while planting corn, 
aged 67 years and 2 days. — W. D. 

1884 — July I, John Kutz, son of Samuel, died, 
aged 63 years. — W. D. 

1884 — Aug. ig, Samuel .Angstadt died, aged 38 
years. — W. D. 

1884 — Oct. 2, Ulrich Miller died, aged 6t years. 
— W. D. 

1885 — March 12, Israel Benner died, aged 73 
years, 5 months and 16 days. — W. D. 

188=; — Two-story brick church of the Evangelical 
Association erected. 

18S5 — May 31, Attended the lavin.g of the corner- 
stone of the Evangelical Church. I was 
present at the laving of the first one in 
1850.— W. D. 

1886 — January 14, Adonai Castle, Knights of the 
Golden Eagle, instituted. 

1887 — Jan, 20, Daniel Graefif, a veteran of the 
late war with England, 1812, died in the 
94th year of his age. — W. D. 

1887 — April 13, St. Paul's Reformed Church dedi- 
cated. 

1888 — Feb. 9, A terrible calamity befell our town 
last night. A fire broke out in the house 
occupied by Daniel Hopp, on Greenwich 
street and Mr. Hopn and both his children, 
(boy and girl) were burned to a crisp, 
besides the three adjoining houses with 
most of their contents. — W. D. 

1888 — Feb. 10, Daniel Zimmerman, proiirietor of 
Black Horse Hotel, died from the effects 
of a fall, aged 69 vears, 5 months and 21 
days.— W. D. 

1889 — Jan. 7, Rev. J. Sassaman Herman died this 
morning aged 70 years. — W. D. 
-March 8, Abraham Long died aged 79 
years, — W. D. 

June 24, The Railroad Hotel in Kutztown 
and three adjoining frame houses were de- 
stroyed by fire this forenoon. — W. D. 
July 30, George J. Kutz died this evening- 
aged 65 years, i month and 28 days. 
George was a noble hearted man. — W. D. 
Aug. 8, William H. Heffner buried today, 
aged 38 years. — W. D. 

■Fall, New Kutztown Dramatic Clul) or- 
ganized. 

Feb. 27, Dr. Cyrus Wanner died, aged 33 
years. 

May 29, Egedius Butz died aged 84 years. 
7 months and 28 days. (Mr. Buiz was a 
good man and a christian.) — W. D. 

Jacob Fisher died at the 
months and 16 



1889- 
1889- 

1889— 

1880- 
1889- 
1890- 
1890- 

1890- 

1800- 



-June I, "Daddy 

great affe of 99 vears, 

days.— W. D. 
-Population. I..=i9.> 



iSoo — Erection of Music Hall. 

i8q2 — Erection of new eight-room pul.-lic school, 
luted. ( Worshipd for a time in Music 

1S92 — (iracc United Evangelical Church consti- 
tuted. ( Worshipped for a time in Music 
Hall). 

1802 — .Aug. 25, Hon. Hiram H. Schwartz, our 
Orphans' Court fudge, died, aged 6r years. 
He was a gocd, honest man as ju<Ige. — 
W. D. 

1892 — Sept. 17, Perry Levan died aged 78 years, 
II months and 11 days. — W. D. 

1893 — Fell. 2, Governor R. E. Pattison is in town. 
He was given a pleasant reception by the 
citizens. He made an address at the Farm- 
ers' Institute in the afternoon. — W. D. 

1S93 — Dec. 16, Samuel Snyder died aged 76 years. 
8 months and 16 days. — W. D. 

1893 — Kutztown Board of Health estaldished. 

1894 — July 21, Professo- Tarius G. Neff died, aged 
48 years, 10 months and 9 days. — W. D. 

1894 — Trinity Lutheran Church erected. 

1894 — Sept. 20, Governor Robert E. Pattison ar- 
rived at 1 1 a. m. and was heartily received. 
He made an address on the fair grounds t.i 
4000 people in the afternoon. — W. D. 

1894, Dec. 22, John Kemp died, aged 85 years, 11 
months and 21 days, many years proprietor 
of Kemo's Hotel and was also Squire. — 
W. D. 

1894 — Dec. 22, Richard Y. Miller died, aged 76 
years. — W. D. 

1895 — February 2, Charles .A. Gerasch Council, 
1004, Jr. O. U. A. M., organized. 

1895 — .August 26, Death of Rev. John H. Lein- 
l:ach. 

i89.i — Sept. 15, Augustus Sprenger died, aged 79 
years, 7 months and 21 days. 

i8g6 — May 21, John Humbert died aged 64 years. 

1896 — July 25, Dewalt F. Bieber died aged 43 

years, 3 months and 8 days. 
1897, November loth. Rev. Isaac Roeller, for 

manv years a prominent Lutheran minister 

of Kutztown, died aged 90 years, 6 months 

and 15 days. 
1899— J. Daniel Wanner died a,ged 89. — W. D. 

1900 — May 29, Purity Temple, 124, Ladies of the 

Golden Eagle, organized. 
1900 — Population, 1,328. 

1900 — December, Through trolley service was in- 
augurated between Kutztown and Allen- 
town. Previous to that time the service 
extended to Maxatawny only. Samuel M. 
Smith, of Kutztown, was the first passeng- 
er to lie taken through to Lehigh county's 
capital. 

1900 — January ist. Rev. B. E. Kramlich, Lutheran 
pastor of Kutztown, died at Fleetwood, 
aged 68 years. ,A striking coincidence of 
his death was that the evening before he 
died he preached a sermon on the text. 
"It is the Last Time," St. John, Second 
Chapter and i8th verse. 

I90t — Septemlier 2,3, Dr. S. L. Harkev, pastor of 
Trinity Lutheran Church, died aged 
xears, 5 months and 20 days. 

1901 — September 24, Dr. J. S. Trexicr, one 
Kutztown's most prominent doctors, died. 

1901 — Oct. 16, Lewis Fisher died, a.ged 70 years, 
1 1 months and 7 days. 

1901 — Dec. 2;^. Death of John G. Wink. 



74 



of 



CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF KUTZTOWX 



247 



190.3 — July 3, Wm. G. Ilinterleiter died, aged 59 
years, 2 months and. 22 days. 

1903 — Sept. 12, Philip Wenz died, aged ■/-, years, 
I I months and i day. 

1904 — Aug. 21, David H. Hottenstein died aged 
90 years, 10 months and 12 days. 

1904 — .August 30, Kutztown .\erie, 839, Fraternal 
Order of Eagles, instituted. 

1905 — Kutztown Fair Association chartered. 

1907 — Dec. I, Frederick Zehm died aged 79 years, 
9 months and 29 daj's. 

1907 — Dec. 3, Nathan Levan died aged 79 years. 

1907 — Erection of Kutztown .Auditorium. 

1908 — New Board of Health appointed. 

1909, June 25, James S. Heffner died, aged 66 
years. 

igio — March 11, Nathan Kemp died, aged 83 
years. 

1910— Sept. 13, Walter B. Bieber died, a.ged 65 
vears. 



igio— December 21, David Saul died, aged 77 

years, 10 months and 7 days. 
1910— Census revealed the fact that Kutztown 

was the richest borough in Berks county. 
19 1 3— Sept. 3, James H. Mar.x: died, aged 67 years, 

8 months and 25 days. 
1913— .July I, Formation of Kutztown Publishing 

Company. 

1914— Aug. 26, Death of Dr. Edward Hotten- 
stein. 

19 14— December 19th, The Berks County Court 
confirmed the findings and recommenda- 
tions of the Jury of Viewers in the matter 
of the division of Kutztown into two ward.^ 

1914— Jtily 10, Death of William S. Kutz. 
with Main street as the dividing line. 

1915— January 15, Death of Rev. J. J. Cressman. 

191 5— .April 22, Death of Col. F. D. Fister, at 
St. Paul, Minn. 

1915 — J.uly I, Population about 2,500. In 1900 
when the last census was taken we had 
2,360 inhabitants, but since then there has 
been a substantial increase. 




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